Highlighted Year: Willie Mays, 1958

Outfielder, San Francisco Giants

Age:  27 (May 6)

7^th season with Giants

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’10” Weight: 170 

Prior to 1958:

An Alabama native, Mays was the son of a father who played semipro baseball and a mother who was a high school track and basketball star. His high school lacking a baseball team, Mays played second base and center field as a teammate of his father with a club in the Fairfield Industrial League. He also played semipro ball and briefly was with the Chattanooga Choo-Choos in 1947, which was a minor affiliate of the Negro American League Birmingham Black Barons. In 1948, at age 17, he joined the Black Barons on a part-time basis while he finished high school and batted .262 in 61 at bats. Still with Birmingham in 1949, Mays hit .311 in 75 games and was impressive defensively in center field. Following a strong start with Birmingham in 1950, Mays was signed by the Giants for $250 per month with a $4000 signing bonus. Initially assigned to Trenton of the Class B Interstate League, where he was the first black player, over the course of 81 games he hit .353 with 20 doubles, 8 triples, and 4 home runs. Mays started the 1951 season with the Minneapolis Millers of the Class AAA American Association and was batting .477 after 35 games, when he was called up to the Giants at the behest of manager Leo Durocher. He was immediately installed in center field and, despite a slow start, he went on to bat .274 with 20 home runs and 68 RBIs as the club got hot down the stretch and forced a season-extending playoff with the Brooklyn Dodgers to decide the pennant. The Giants won thanks to a walk-off home run by Bobby Thomson and went on to lose the World Series to the New York Yankees. Mays received NL Rookie of the Year recognition. He was limited to 34 games in 1952 before being inducted into the Army. Mays missed the remainder of the ’52 season and all of 1953, but he played service baseball. Returning to the Giants in 1954 he went on a home run tear to start the season on the way to batting a league-leading .345 with 33 doubles, a NL-high 13 triples, 41 home runs, and 110 RBIs. The Giants won the pennant and Mays was the league MVP. In the World Series sweep of the Cleveland Indians, he made a brilliant defensive play in Game 1 at the Polo Grounds to chase a ball hit over his head by Cleveland first baseman Vic Wertz, making an over-the shoulder catch and whirling to make a throw to the infield that kept runners from advancing. The Giants dropped to third in 1955 but Mays hit .319 with 127 RBIs and topped the league with 13 triples, 51 home runs, a .659 slugging percentage, and 382 total bases. He also led all NL outfielders in assists (23) and double plays (8). The home runs dropped to 36 in 1956, but with his speed and daring on the basepaths he led the league with 40 stolen bases. He further compiled 84 RBIs and hit .296. In the Giants’ final season in New York in 1957, Mays led the NL in triples (20), slugging (.625), and stolen bases (38), while hitting 35 home runs with 97 RBIs and a .333 batting average. With the move to San Francisco in 1958, he was joined in the lineup by power-hitting rookie first baseman Orlando Cepeda. After being enormously popular in New York, he found the San Francisco fans slow to warm up to him and there was a racial incident when he sought to buy a house in the city. The local sportswriters were slow to warm up as well and he had a less pleasant relationship with manager Bill Rigney than the one he had enjoyed with Leo Durocher. A charismatic, enthusiastic, and energetic player known as “the Sey Hey Kid” due to his standard greeting, who did flashy things on the field like utilize a basket catch, he was prone to bouts of nervous exhaustion throughout his career and was briefly hospitalized during the season for rest.

1958 Season Summary

Appeared in 152 games

CF – 151, PH – 2

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 685 [2]

At Bats – 600 [6]

Runs – 121 [1]

Hits – 208 [2]

Doubles – 33 [6, tied with Bob Skinner]

Triples – 11 [2, tied with Bill Virdon & Ernie Banks]

Home Runs – 29 [6]

RBI – 96 [4, tied with Orlando Cepeda]

Bases on Balls – 78 [5, tied with Jim Gilliam]

Int. BB – 12 [4, tied with Ernie Banks]

Strikeouts – 56

Stolen Bases – 31 [1]

Caught Stealing – 6 [8, tied with four others]

Average - .347 [2]

OBP - .419 [3]

Slugging Pct. - .583 [2]

Total Bases – 350 [2]

GDP – 11

Hit by Pitches – 1

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 6 [11, tied with four others]

League-leading runs scored were +2 ahead of runner-up Ernie Banks

League-leading stolen bases were +1 ahead of runner-up Richie Ashburn

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 17, 3B – 8, HR - 16, RBI - 48, AVG - .358, SLG - .622, OBP – .411

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Most hits, game – 5 (in 5 AB) at LA Dodgers 5/13, (in 5 AB) vs. LA Dodgers 9/1

Longest hitting streak – 9 games

Most HR, game – 2 (in 4 AB) vs. LA Dodgers 5/9, (in 5 AB) at LA Dodgers 5/12, (in 5 AB) at LA Dodgers 5/13

HR at home – 16

HR on road – 13

Multi-HR games – 3

Most RBIs, game – 5 vs. LA Dodgers 5/9, at LA Dodgers 5/12

Pinch-hitting – 0 for 2 (.000) 

Fielding

Chances – 455

Put Outs – 429

Assists – 17

Errors – 9

DP – 2

Pct. - .980

Awards & Honors:

Gold Glove

All-Star (Started for NL in CF)

2^nd in NL MVP voting (185 points – 3 first place votes, 55% share)

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The Giants went 80-74 in their first San Francisco season to finish third in the NL, 12 games behind the pennant-winning Milwaukee Braves while leading the league in runs scored (727), doubles (250) and RBIs (682). The Giants got off to a strong start and were in first place for all but two days from May 18 to June 10. They remained close to the top and were last in first on July 29. They dropped into third place to stay during a 14-17 August and drew a total of 1,272,625 fans to their temporary home at Seals Stadium, nearly doubling the attendance from their last year at New York’s Polo Grounds.    

Aftermath of 1958:

Another power-hitting rookie first baseman, Willie McCovey, joined the Giants during the 1959 season and the team contended for the NL pennant (McCovey would later go on to become the strong lefthanded bat behind Mays in the lineup). Mays contributed a .313 average, 34 home runs, 104 RBIs, 27 stolen bases, and his usual impressive play in center field, despite suffering leg and hand injuries. The move into Candlestick Park in 1960 diminished Mays’ power numbers, although he hit well on the road and led the NL with 190 hits while also batting .319 with 29 home runs and 103 RBIs. In 1961 he had his greatest single-game hitting performance as he homered a record-tying four times in a game against the Braves at Milwaukee’s County Stadium. Benefiting from the presence of Cepeda batting behind him, Mays hit .308 with 40 home runs, 123 RBIs, and scored a league-leading 129 runs. The Giants won the NL pennant in 1962 and “the Say Hey Kid” contributed a league-high 49 home runs along with 141 RBIs and a .304 average. He was at his best down the stretch, despite passing out in the dugout in Cincinnati as a result of fatigue as the Giants battled the Dodgers and ended up facing off in a season-extending playoff. He was narrowly edged out in the league MVP voting by LA shortstop Maury Wills. Mays, now the highest paid player at $105,000, had a rough first half in 1963 that led some observers to speculate that he was slowing down at age 32. He picked up the pace in the season’s second half to finish at .314 with 38 home runs and 103 RBIs. With the Giants contending in 1964, Mays led the NL with 47 home runs and a .607 slugging percentage while batting .296 with 111 RBIs. He followed up with his second MVP season in 1965 by again topping the NL with 52 home runs, a .398 on-base percentage, and a .645 slugging percentage while hitting .317 with 112 RBIs. Mays remained highly productive in 1966, hitting .288 with 37 home runs and 103 RBIs. Along the way he passed Jimmie Foxx to reach second on the all-time home run list at the time. Problems with injury and illness limited him to a .263 average with 22 home runs and 70 RBIs in 1967, although he still was an All-Star and received a Gold Glove. His average rebounded to .289 in 1968 along with 23 home runs and 79 RBIs. Mays reached 600 career home runs in 1969 in a year in which he totaled only 13 with 58 RBIs and a .283 average. He reached 3000 hits in 1970 as he batted .291 with 28 home runs and 83 RBIs. The Giants won the NL West in 1971 and Mays contributed 18 home runs, 61 RBIs, and league-leading totals in walks drawn (112) and OBP (.425). He played 48 games at first base in addition to 84 in center field to rest his aging legs. Seeking a long-term contract entering 1972, and now making $160,000 per year, he was dealt to the New York Mets in May. In his return to New York, he homered in his first at bat, one of 8 for the year for the 41-year-old slugger. He again split his time between center field and first base and received a salary boost from his new club to $175,000 with a guarantee of $50,000 per year following his retirement if he remained a coach for the team. He lasted one more year as a player in 1973, struggling with rib and knee injuries and appearing in 66 games. For his career including his Negro League totals, Mays batted .301 with 3293 hits that included 525 doubles, 141 triples, and 660 home runs. He further scored 2068 runs and compiled 1909 RBIs and 339 stolen bases, as well as drawing 1468 walks. He compiled twelve 100-run seasons, eleven 30-home run seasons, which included two over 50 and six with at least 40, and ten 100-RBI years. With the Giants he batted .304 with 3187 hits, 504 doubles, 139 triples, 646 home runs, 1859 RBIs, 336 stolen bases, and 2011 runs scored. Appearing in 25 postseason games, Mays hit .247 with a home run and 10 RBIs. A 24-time All-Star (where he often showcased his impressive talents) he placed in the top ten in NL MVP voting twelve times, including two wins. He also received 12 Gold Gloves. The Giants retired his #24 and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979. Mays died in 2024 at the age of 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. 

Highlighted Year: Bob Aspromonte, 1964

Third Baseman, Houston Colt .45s

 

Age:  26 (June 19)

3^rd season with Colt .45s

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’2”    Weight: 170 

Prior to 1964:

A native of Brooklyn, New York, Aspromonte grew up a Brooklyn Dodgers fan and participated in youth baseball. As a senior at Lafayette High School, he was captain of the baseball team and played basketball as well. Aspromonte signed with the Dodgers out of high school in 1956. After playing for Macon of the Class A South Atlantic (or Sally) League, the 18-year-old was called up to Brooklyn in September and went hitless in one at bat. Aspromonte spent six months in the Army in 1957 before entering the Army Reserve and returning to baseball with Macon, where he batted .311 in twelve games before being sent to Thomasville of the Class D Georgia-Florida League where he hit .263 in 53 games while appearing at third base and shortstop. In 1958 he was assigned to Des Moines of the Class A Western League where he batted .263 with 12 extra-base hits and a .333 on-base percentage. In 1959 “Aspro” advanced to the Montreal Royals and hit .259 with 18 doubles and a .299 OBP. A strong spring performance allowed Aspromonte to start the 1960 season as a utility infielder with the Dodgers, who were in their third season in Los Angeles and coming off a World Series title. After an impressive four-hit outing in May that included his first major league home run, Aspromonte’s hitting dropped off and he was sent to St. Paul of the Class AAA American Association to get more playing time and he batted .329 with 18 doubles, 7 triples, 2 home runs, and a .390 OBP. Back with the Dodgers in 1961, he saw scant playing time, appearing in only 47 games and hitting .241 with a .290 OBP. With NL expansion in 1962, Aspromonte was selected by Houston with the third overall pick, and he became the new club’s starting third baseman. He went on to bat .266 in 1962 with 18 doubles, 4 triples, 11 home runs, 59 RBIs, and a .332 OBP. Aspromonte had a lesser season in 1963, hitting a disappointing .214 with 9 doubles, 5 triples, 8 home runs, 49 RBIs, and a .276 OBP. His defensive performance was better as he placed second among NL third basemen with 134 putouts, and fifth in assists with 213.

1964 Season Summary

Appeared in 157 games

3B – 155, PH – 3

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 608

At Bats – 553

Runs – 51

Hits – 155

Doubles – 20

Triples – 3

Home Runs – 12

RBI – 69

Bases on Balls – 35

Int. BB – 7

Strikeouts – 54

Stolen Bases – 6

Caught Stealing – 7 [13, tied with five others]

Average - .280

OBP - .329

Slugging Pct. - .392

Total Bases – 217

GDP – 14 [13, tied with Tommy Davis & Frank Howard]

Hit by Pitches – 8 [5, tied with Orlando Cepeda & Walt Bond]

Sac Hits – 6

Sac Flies – 6 [7, tied with ten others]

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 8, HR - 9, RBI - 33, AVG - .284, OBP - .322

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) vs. Cincinnati 8/15

Longest hitting streak – 11 games

HR at home – 10

HR on road – 2

Most home runs, game – 1 on twelve occasions

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 4 vs. Cincinnati 6/11, vs. Philadelphia 6/29, vs. Cincinnati 8/15, vs. St. Louis 8/19 – 10 innings

Pinch-hitting – 0 for 2 (.000) with 1 BB

Fielding

Chances – 405

Put Outs – 133

Assists – 261

Errors – 11

DP – 10

Pct. - .973 

 Awards & Honors:

Colt .45 of the Year: Houston chapter, BBWAA

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The Colt .45s went 66-96 to finish ninth in the NL, 27 games behind the pennant-winning St. Louis Cardinals while leading the league in fewest runs scored (495), fewest hits (1214), fewest doubles (162), fewest home runs (70), fewest RBIs (452), lowest batting average (.229), lowest OBP (.285), lowest slugging percentage (.315), and fewest total bases (1668). The Colt .45s, with solid pitching and defense as well as a lack of offensive punch, still stayed just under .500 until late June on the way to reproducing their 1963 record. Aspromonte topped the club in batting and led NL third basemen with his .973 fielding percentage.

Aftermath of 1964:

The club was renamed the Astros in 1965 as it moved into the new domed stadium, dubbed the Astrodome. On the field, the team started well but again finished ninth. Aspromonte again performed well defensively, but his batting production dipped somewhat to .263 with 15 doubles, 5 home runs, 52 RBIs, and a .310 OBP. In 1966 he topped NL third basemen in fielding percentage for the second time (.962) and his hitting production resulted in a batting average of .252 with 16 doubles, 8 home runs, 52 RBIs, and a .297 OBP. A contact hitter with limited power, he slugged two grand slams, which gave him a career total of six with Houston, which remained the club record until 2011. Aspromonte had a fine season at the plate in 1967, hitting .294 with 24 doubles, 5 triples, 6 home runs, 58 RBIs, and a .354 OBP. Despite some other good individual performances, the Astros finished ninth. By 1968 “Aspro” was the last remaining player from Houston’s inaugural season. Challenged at third base by young Doug Rader, he was limited to 124 games and batted .225 with 12 extra-base hits, including just one home run, 46 RBIs, and a .285 OBP. In the offseason Aspromonte was traded to the Atlanta Braves. Backing up Clete Boyer at third base and doing utility duty at other positions, he appeared in 82 games and batted .253 with a .304 slugging percentage. With the advent of divisional play in both leagues, the Braves won the NL West title and lost to the New York Mets in the first NLCS. It provided Aspromonte with the only postseason action of his career. He went hitless in three at bats. Still a reserve with the Braves in 1970, he appeared in 62 games and hit a mere .213 with a .282 OBP. Dealt to the Mets in the offseason, Aspromonte started the 1971 season at third base and, despite a slow start, was performing respectably until he suffered a calf injury in June. Seeing limited action the rest of the way, he batted .225 in 104 games with 5 home runs, 33 RBIs, and a .285 OBP. Released in the offseason, he was invited to spring training with Cincinnati, failed to make the team, and retired. For his major league career, Aspromonte batted .252 with 1103 hits that included 135 doubles, 26 triples, and 60 home runs. He scored 386 runs and compiled 457 RBIs, a .308 OBP, and a .336 slugging percentage. With Houston he batted .258 with 925 hits, 336 runs scored, 111 doubles, 24 triples, 51 home runs, 385 RBIs, a .313 OBP, and a .345 slugging percentage. Aspromonte was inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005. He was also the first honoree on the Astros Walk of Fame outside Minute Maid Park. He further received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for his humanitarian work fostering tolerance, respect, and understanding between religious and ethnic groups. His brother, Ken, was an infielder with six major league teams between 1957 and 1963 who managed the Cleveland Indians from 1972 to ’74.

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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: Hal Woodeshick, 1963

Pitcher, Houston Colt .45s

Age:  31 (Aug. 24)

2^nd season with Colt .45s

Bats – Right, Throws – Left

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 200 

Prior to 1963:

A native of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Woodeshick moved to that state’s Beaver County at a young age. He became a high school pitching star in the town of Monaca, where he once pitched a perfect game. Signed by the Philadelphia Phillies at age 17, he appeared in one game with Carbondale of the Class D North Atlantic League in 1950 before being sent to a New York Giants affiliate, the Kingsport Cherokees of the Appalachian League in 1952, where he posted a 13-6 record and 4.54 ERA along with 169 strikeouts and 140 walks over 216 innings. Woodeshick spent the next two years in the Army before moving on to the Danville Leafs of the Class B Carolina League in 1955 where he went 14-8 with a 3.55 ERA and 140 strikeouts with 103 walks over 180 innings. Drafted by the Detroit Tigers he next played for Charleston of the Class AAA American Association in 1956 where, despite an elbow injury that cost him a month of action, he produced a 12-5 tally and 2.75 ERA with 72 strikeouts over 157 innings. Called up to the Tigers in September, which forced him to postpone his wedding, his performance was unimpressive after a strikeout of star catcher Yogi Berra in an initial outing against the Yankees. A winter pitching in Cuba failed to adequately improve his curveball and he appeared to be overweight when he arrived for spring training in 1957. Returning to Charleston, he had a disappointing season, posting a 5-9 record and 4.89 ERA with 65 strikeouts and 61 walks over 116 innings. Along the way he was accused of throwing spitballs. Demoted all the way to Class A, Woodeshick was traded to the Cleveland Indians in the offseason. Assigned to San Diego of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League to start the 1958 season, he had a 10-2 tally and 2.54 ERA when he was called up to the Indians by new manager Joe Gordon, who had replaced the fired Bobby Bragan. Woodeshick got off to a strong start with Cleveland, hurling three complete game wins in four starts. His performance dropped off thereafter and he was relegated to the bullpen, where he finished the season strongly. For the season with Cleveland he went 6-6 with a 3.64 ERA and 27 strikeouts over 71.2 innings. With the Indians hoping he could be their best lefthanded option out of the bullpen in 1959, Woodeshick struggled during the spring with his weight and performance and was sent down to Toronto of the Class AAA International League where he performed acceptably as a starter before being dealt to the Washington Senators in late May. Utilized almost exclusively as a reliever by the Senators, the chronic worrier experienced difficulties in the early going but went on to make 31 appearances and produce a 2-4 record and 3.69 ERA with 30 strikeouts over 61 innings. 11 pitchers started games for the Senators in 1960 and Woodeshick started 14 times among his 41 appearances, compiling a 4-5 tally and 4.70 ERA along with 4 saves and 46 strikeouts over 115 innings. With the move of the Senators to Minnesota for 1961, Woodeshick was taken in the expansion draft by the replacement Washington Senators franchise. Moving into the starting rotation for the new club, he had a 3-2 mark and 4.02 ERA when he was traded back to the Detroit Tigers in June. He performed poorly as a reliever for the contending Tigers, resulting in a demotion to Class AAA Charleston of the International League which allowed him to be close to home in West Virginia during his wife’s pregnancy and to help with relief efforts following devastating flooding. In the offseason he was sold to the expansion Colt .45s. Inserted into the starting rotation he put together a 5-16 record that included picking up the win in the first shutout victory in franchise history (with RHP Dick Farrell picking up a save). His ERA was 4.39 and he struck out 82 batters over a career-high 139.1 innings. He would never again start a game after the 1962 season. Previously reliant on his fastball, he finally gained command of his curve and added a slider which would help him come into his own as a reliever in 1963.

1963 Season Summary

Appeared in 55 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 55 [7, tied with Al McBean & Bobby Shantz]

Games Started – 0

Games Finished – 39 [4]

Complete Games – 0

Wins – 11

Losses – 9

PCT - .550 [Non-qualifying]

Saves – 10 [10, tied with Al Worthington]

Shutouts – 0

Innings Pitched – 114

Hits – 75

Runs – 29

Earned Runs – 25

Home Runs – 3

Bases on Balls – 42

Strikeouts – 94

ERA – 1.97 [Non-qualifying]

Hit Batters – 6 [13, tied with nine others]

Balks – 1

Wild Pitches – 8 [14, tied with six others]

Midseason Snapshot: 8-4, G – 29, ERA - 1.41, SV – 2, SO - 48 in 70.1 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 6 (in 4 IP) vs. Cincinnati 4/28, (in 7.2 IP) vs. Chi. Cubs 5/11, (in 3 IP) at NY Mets 9/15

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 7.2 IP) vs. Chi. Cubs 5/11

Batting

PA – 24, AB – 23, R – 2, H – 3, 2B – 0, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 0, BB – 1, SO – 11, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .130, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 42

Put Outs – 6

Assists – 33

Errors – 3

DP – 1

Pct. - .929

Awards & Honors:

Colt .45 of the Year: Houston chapter, BBWAA

All-Star

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The Colt .45s went 66-96 to finish ninth in the NL, 33 games behind the pennant-winning Los Angeles Dodgers. The pitching staff led the league in fewest walks issued (378) and fewest home runs allowed (95). The second-year Colt .45s were 20-29 by the end of May and firmly ensconced in ninth place, and occasionally tenth, the rest of the way. With the club seeking to build on youth, manager Harry Craft inserted a mixture of the young talent into the lineup late in the season which led to a 16-6 run to conclude the schedule.

Aftermath of 1963:

Heading into 1964, Woodeshick, whose career had been nondescript until 1963, was sought after by contending teams. He remained with Houston and, despite a midseason slump, went on to record a league-leading 23 saves to go along with a 2-9 record and 2.76 ERA in 61 appearances. The Colt .45s were renamed the Astros and moved into their new domed stadium, the Astrodome in 1965, but Woodeshick would not remain with the club for very long. In June he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, who were desperate to shore up their bullpen, as part of a four-player deal. Woodeshick performed ably for the Cardinals and finished with a combined record of 6-6 with 18 saves in 78 appearances, a 2.25 ERA, and 59 strikeouts over 92 innings pitched. A shoulder injury suffered during 1966 spring training dropped Woodeshick’s workload to 59 games, although he remained effective and produced a 1.92 ERA and 2-1 tally with 4 saves and 30 strikeouts over 70.1 innings. He further proved to be a valuable mentor to the club’s rising cadre of young pitchers. The Cardinals won the NL pennant in 1967 and Woodeshick was part of a remarkably well-balanced and capable bullpen that included lefthanders Joe Hoerner (the closer) and Al Jackson and righties Ron Willis and Jack Lamabe. He appeared in one game during the World Series against the Boston Red Sox and finished the Game 6 loss by inducing Boston slugger Carl Yastrzemski to ground out. The Cardinals won Game 7 and Woodeshick earned a World Series championship ring. Released in the offseason, he chose to retire at age 35 even though several clubs expressed interest in him. For his major league career Woodeshick pitched in 427 games, 62 of them starts, and produced a 44-62 record and 3.56 ERA with 61 saves, 7 complete games, and 484 strikeouts over 847.1 innings. With Houston he appeared in 174 games, 62 of them starts, with a 3.16 ERA, 36 saves, 2 complete games, and 256 strikeouts over 364 innings. A poor fielder, he had particular difficulty with throwing to first base. Following his playing career, Woodeshick moved to Houston and coached and tutored in youth baseball. Back where he had first demonstrated his baseball talent, he was inducted into the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame in 1979. He died in 2009 at age 76. His younger cousin, Tom Woodeshick, was an NFL running back, primarily with the Philadelphia Eagles, from 1963-72.

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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: Jim Bunning, 1961

Pitcher, Detroit Tigers

Age:  29

7^th season with Tigers

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 190 

Prior to 1961:

A Kentucky native, Bunning grew up in Southgate, across the Ohio River from Cincinnati and attended Reds games along with his father. He also began pitching during his youth. Attending St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, he played football and basketball in addition to baseball. Admitted to Xavier University in 1949, Bunning drew the interest of a Tigers scout as a sophomore and signed for $4000 on the stipulation that he continue his college education and not have to report until the end of the spring semester each year, which caused him to miss three years of spring training. Initially reporting to Richmond of the Class D Ohio-Indiana League as an 18-year-old in 1950 and after winning his first five starts, he lost seven straight and finished at 7-8 with a 3.22 ERA. Advancing to Davenport of the Class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa (or Three I) League in 1951 Bunning produced an 8-10 tally with the last-place team along with a 2.88 ERA and 103 strikeouts, along with 105 walks, over 150 innings. In 1952 with Williamsport of the Class A Eastern League, his record was a disappointing 5-9 with a 3.49 ERA, 10 complete games, and 85 strikeouts over 129 innings pitched. Having graduated college in 1953 with a degree in Economics, Bunning continued with his baseball career by adjusting his pitching delivery to a three-quarter side-arm motion. Initially assigned to the Buffalo Bisons of the Class AAA International League, he was switched to Little Rock of the Class AA Southern Association where he produced a 5-12 mark with a 4.56 ERA, 6 complete games, and 124 strikeouts over 158 innings while reducing his walks to 66. Returning to Little Rock in 1954, his tally improved to 13-11 with a 4.29 ERA, 11 complete games, and 140 strikeouts over 193 innings. Reassigned to Buffalo in 1955, he worked on supplementing his fastball with breaking pitches and went 8-5 with a 3.77 ERA, 8 complete games, and 105 strikeouts with 81 walks over 129 innings. Called up to the Tigers in July he was 3-5 as a starter/reliever with a high 6.35 ERA and 37 strikeouts with 32 walks over 51 innings. Following a winter pitching in Mexico to further develop his breaking pitches, Bunning was optioned to the Charleston Senators of the Class AAA American Association in 1956 where he had a 9-11 tally and 3.53 ERA when he was recalled to the Tigers in July. Appearing in 15 games (12 in relief), Bunning’s record was 5-1 with a 3.71 ERA and 34 strikeouts over 53.1 innings. Working out of the bullpen with the Tigers early in the 1957 season, he developed a slider to add to his repertoire along with his fastball, curve, and changeup. His delivery was such that his follow-thru had the lanky pitcher falling off the mound toward first base while his gloved left hand would touch the ground. An impressive May start against the Red Sox put Bunning into the rotation as he went on to compile a 20-8 record along with a 2.69 ERA and 182 strikeouts over a league-leading 267.1 innings. Along the way he started the All-Star Game for the AL and retired all nine NL batters that he faced. The only significant downside was serving up 33 home runs. Bunning got off to a rocky start in 1958 heightened by a rib injury in May. A strong second half that included a no-hitter against the Red Sox lifted him to a 14-12 tally and 3.52 ERA with 177 strikeouts over 219.2 innings. Bunning led the AL with 201 strikeouts in 1959 while producing a 17-13 mark and 3.89 ERA. He once again had problems with giving up the long ball while surrendering a league-leading 37 home runs. Along the way in a relief appearance in August he pulled off the rare feat of striking out three batters in an inning on nine pitches. His record was a disappointing 11-14 in 1960 but he again topped the league with 201 strikeouts while accumulating 252 innings and a 2.79 ERA.

1961 Season Summary

Appeared in 38 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 38

Games Started – 37 [2]

Complete Games – 12 [4, tied with four others]

Wins – 17 [4]

Losses – 11

PCT - .607 [13]

Saves – 1

Shutouts – 4 [3, tied with Milt Pappas & Frank Lary]

Innings Pitched – 268 [3]

Hits – 232 [11]

Runs – 113 [13]

Earned Runs – 95 [15]

Home Runs – 25 [11, tied with Ray Herbert & Bob Shaw]

Bases on Balls – 71

Strikeouts – 194 [3]

ERA – 3.19 [7, tied with Hal Brown]

Hit Batters – 9 [4, tied with Bud Daley]

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 2 

Midseason Snapshot: 9-6, ERA – 3.54, SO - 102 in 137.1 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 11 (in 9 IP) vs. Baltimore 7/19

10+ strikeout games – 3

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 8 IP) at Washington 8/25

Batting

PA – 104, AB – 100, R – 6, H – 13, 2B – 1, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 4, BB – 2, SO – 30, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .130, GDP – 3, HBP – 0, SH – 2, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 53

Put Outs – 21

Assists – 29

Errors – 3

DP – 6

Pct. - .943

Awards & Honors:

All-Star (started for AL in second game)

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The Tigers went 101-61 to finish second in the AL, 8 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees. The pitching staff led the league in complete games (62), shutouts (20), and fewest bases on balls issued (469). The Tigers started off fast and were in first place from April 29 until June 6 and then again from June 17 through July 6. They were in first or second for the remainder of July but in second to stay through August and September. After losing three straight to the Yankees in New York to start September, they continued to lose until the string reached eight straight to end any pennant hopes.

Aftermath of 1961:

The Tigers dropped to fourth place in 1962, but Bunning, who relieved effectively six times in addition to his regular starting assignments produced a 19-10 record and 3.59 ERA with 12 complete games and 184 strikeouts while compiling 258 innings. Detroit dropped a spot lower in the standings in 1963 and replaced manager Bob Scheffing with Chuck Dressen during the season and Bunning expressed dissatisfaction with Dressen’s handling of him during a year in which he posted a disappointing 12-13 tally with a 3.88 ERA and 196 strikeouts over 248.1 innings. He was still an All-Star for the fifth time in a Detroit uniform, but his outspokenness and tough contract negotiating skill led to his being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in the offseason along with catcher Gus Triandos for outfielder Don Demeter and RHP Jack Hamilton. In 1964 Bunning combined with LHP Chris Short to create an impressive righty-lefty tandem for the Phillies. Along the way he pitched a perfect game against the New York Mets. Come September the Phillies were in first place by 6.5 games with 12 remaining to play when they endured an epic collapse, losing 10 straight games and finishing in a tie for second place. Manager Gene Mauch took much criticism for starting Bunning and Short on short rest down the stretch to try and right the ship. Bunning, who three times started on just two days of rest, was charged with three of the losses during the collapse and finished with a 19-8 record and 2.63 ERA along with 13 complete games, 5 shutouts, and 219 strikeouts while pitching 284.1 innings. In 1965 he had another solid season by going 19-9 with a 2.60 ERA, 16 complete games, 5 shutouts, and 268 strikeouts. Bunning continued his string of 19-win seasons in 1966 with a 19-14 tally along with a 2.41 ERA, 314 innings pitched, 16 complete games, 5 shutouts, and 252 strikeouts. He won fewer games in 1967 with his 17-15 record but led the NL in strikeouts (253), innings pitched (302.1), and shutouts (6) and was among the leaders with his 2.29 ERA and 16 complete games. The Phillies, who had not contended since 1964 chose to deal the 36-year-old veteran in the offseason as part of a youth movement. He went to the Pittsburgh Pirates for LHP Woody Fryman and three minor league prospects. Hindered by multiple injuries in 1968, Bunning’s record dropped to 4-14 and a 3.88 ERA while accumulating only 160 innings and 95 strikeouts. He performed better in 1969 and was 10-9 with a 3.81 ERA when he was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers in August. He finished with a combined tally of 13-10, a 3.69 ERA, and 157 strikeouts over 212.1 innings with 5 complete games. Released by the Dodgers in the offseason, Bunning returned to the floundering Phillies in 1970. He posted a 10-15 mark with a 4.11 ERA and 147 strikeouts over 219 innings. In 1971 he started the first Phillies home game at the new Veterans Stadium, drawing a win. It was one of 5 for the season against 12 losses, and Bunning retired. For his major league career, he produced a 224-184 record with a 3.27 ERA, 151 complete games, 40 shutouts, 16 saves, and 2855 strikeouts over 3760.1 innings. With Detroit he went 118-87 with a 3.45 ERA, 78 complete games, 16 shutouts, 12 saves, and 1406 strikeouts over 1867.1 innings. He never appeared in the postseason. Highly consistent and a nine-time All-Star, Bunning was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996. The Phillies retired his #14 and put a plaque in his honor on the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame at Citizens Bank Park. Following his playing career Bunning managed in the Phillies farm system for several years. Formerly active with the players’ association, he also acted as a player agent. Bunning brought his determination and competitiveness to the political arena and served in both the US House of Representatives and the Senate, representing Kentucky. He died in 2017 at the age of 85.

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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: Jimmy Barrett, 1903

Outfielder, Detroit Tigers

Age:  28

3^rd season with Tigers

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 5’7”    Weight: 170 

Prior to 1903:

A Massachusetts native who was orphaned at age six, Barrett was raised by uncles and began playing baseball professionally in nearby Brattleboro, Vermont when he was 21. In 1898 he joined the Oswego Grays of the New York State League and played shortstop until committing six errors in two games, which caused him to be shifted to third base. Moving on to Taunton in July, Barrett was moved to right field and impressed with his hitting and speed. He batted .330 with 20 outfield assists in 53 games. He started 1899 with Detroit of the Western League, scored 117 runs and hit .331 until his contract was sold to the Cincinnati Reds at the end of August. An immediate success as a leadoff-hitting right fielder for the Reds, he batted .370 in 26 games with a .477 on-base percentage and 30 runs scored. His speed and aggressiveness made him a fan favorite. Barrett moved to center field 30 games into the 1900 season. He went on to hit .316 with 11 doubles, 7 triples, 5 home runs, 42 RBIs, 114 runs scored, 44 stolen bases,and a .400 OBP while striking out a league-leading 63 times. Barrett jumped to the Detroit Tigers of the new American League in 1901, signing a contract for $3000. He batted .293 with 16 doubles, 9 triples, 4 home runs, 110 runs scored, 26 stolen bases, and a .385 OBP, and as in Cincinnati, he became popular with Detroit fans for his style of play. Following an offseason of barnstorming, he returned to the Tigers in 1902 despite the threat of legal action by the Reds, seeking to regain his services. He hit .303 with a .397 OBP. Barrett also signed a two-year contract extension to stay with Detroit.

1903 Season Summary

Appeared in 136 games

CF – 136

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 616 [3]

At Bats – 517 [19]

Runs – 95 [3, tied with Willie Keeler]

Hits – 163 [7, tied with Buck Freeman & Lave Cross]

Doubles – 13

Triples – 10 [19, tied with Lou Criger]

Home Runs – 2

RBI – 31

Bases on Balls – 74 [1]

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 67 [5]

Stolen Bases – 27 [10]

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .315 [4]

OBP - .407 [1]

Slugging Pct. - .391 [16]

Total Bases – 202 [15]

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 6 [10, tied with eight others]

Sac Hits – 18 [14, tied with Patsy Dougherty, Lefty Davis & Lee Tannehill]

Sac Flies – N/A

League-leading bases on balls drawn were +4 ahead of runner-up Billy Lush

League-leading OBP was +.016 ahead of runner-up Topsy Hartsel

Midseason snapshot: 3B – 4, HR - 2, RBI – 15, SB – 11, AVG - .304, OBP – .378, SLG – .381

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Most hits, game – 5 (in 5 AB) vs. Chi. White Sox 4/29

Longest hitting streak – 10 games

Most HR, game – 1 (in 5 AB) vs. Bos. Americans 5/15, (in 3 AB) vs. Phila. A’s 6/26

HR at home – 2

HR on road – 0

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 3 vs. Bos. Americans 8/13

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding

Chances – 337

Put Outs – 303

Assists – 19

Errors – 15

DP – 7

Pct. - .955 

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The Tigers went 65-71 to finish fifth in the AL, 25 games behind the pennant-winning Boston Americans while leading the league in OBP (.318), fewest doubles (162) and fewest home runs (12, tied with the St. Louis Browns). The Tigers broke out fast with a 5-1 start before fading in May and never rising above fourth place the rest of the way. As during the previous year, it was effective pitching that fueled any success the club had as, other than Barrett and outfield newcomers Billy Lush and Sam Crawford, the offensive production was lacking.

Aftermath of 1903:

With the Tigers in 1904 Barrett again led the league in walks drawn with 79 while he hit .268 with a .353 OBP. Plagued by a knee injury in 1905, he was limited to 20 games, and he was still bothered by the injury in 1906 when the Reds purchased his contract on a conditional basis. After failing to produce a hit in 12 at bats, he acted as a player/manager for Dayton of the Central League for a month, when he was released. Moving on to Rochester of the Eastern League a few weeks later, Barrett managed to play in 74 games and batted .277, although his range in the outfield was significantly reduced. Returning to the American League with the Boston Americans in 1907, he hit .244 in 106 games. Released by Boston early in the 1908 season, he played three years with Milwaukee of the American Association and retired in 1913. For his major league career, Barrett batted .291 with 962 hits that included 83 doubles, 47 triples, and 16 home runs. He scored 580 runs and compiled 255 RBIs, a .379 OBP, and 143 stolen bases. With Detroit he batted .292 with 383 runs scored, 660 hits, 59 doubles, 30 triples, 10 home runs, 174 RBIs, a .382 OBP, and 92 stolen bases. He went into a business career following baseball and died from a stroke at age 46 in 1921. A good and popular player at his best, his failure to fully recover from a severe knee injury brought his career to an end (if only he had the benefits of modern sports medicine at that time).

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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: Ed Siever, 1902

Pitcher, Detroit Tigers

 

Age:  27 (April 2)

2^nd major league season with Tigers

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 5’11” Weight: 190 

Prior to 1902:

A Kansas native, Siever worked for the Grand Trunk Railway before pitching in Colorado. He joined the London Cockneys of the Canadian League in 1899 where his impressive speed and control led to a 17-6 record with 85 strikeouts over 205 innings pitched. Signed by the Tigers, which were now part of the not-yet-major American League, in 1900 he started 12 games and produced a 6-5 tally while issuing only 20 walks.

1902 Season Summary

Appeared in 25 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 25

Games Started – 23

Complete Games – 17

Wins – 8

Losses – 11 [20, tied with four others]

PCT - .421

Saves – 1 [2, tied with nine others]

Shutouts – 4 [2, tied with Earl Moore & Win Mercer]

Innings Pitched – 188.1

Hits – 166

Runs – 73

Earned Runs – 40

Home Runs – 0

Bases on Balls – 32

Strikeouts – 36

ERA – 1.91 [1]

Hit Batters – 2

Balks – 1 [2, tied with five others]

Wild Pitches – 0

League-leading ERA was -0.14 lower than runner-up Rube Waddell

Midseason Snapshot: 5-8, ERA - 2.32, SO - 20 in 124 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 4 (in 9 IP) at Baltimore 7/21

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 9 IP) at Chi. White Sox 4/24

Batting

PA – 71, AB – 66, R – 3, H – 10, 2B – 1, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 6, BB – 1, SO – 8, SB – 0, CS – N/A, AVG - .152, GDP – N/A, HBP – 0, SH – 4, SF – N/A

Fielding

Chances – 53

Put Outs – 5

Assists – 40

Errors – 8

DP – 1

Pct. - .849

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The Tigers went 52-83 to finish seventh in the AL, 30.5 games behind the pennant-winning Philadelphia Athletics. The punchless Tigers were 16-14 at the end of May but slid downward the rest of the way, wasting good pitching performances by Siever, Win Mercer, and George Mullin. Siever strained his arm in a 13-inning duel against the Philadelphia Athletics and their star southpaw Rube Waddell, which the A’s won 1-0. 

Aftermath of 1902:

Sold to the St. Louis Browns in 1903, Siever was still dealing with a sore arm and produced a 13-14 record and 2.48 ERA with 24 complete games and 90 strikeouts and 39 walks over 254 innings. His 1904 tally was 10-15 with a 2.65 ERA and 77 strikeouts over 217 innings while his walk total rose to 65. In 1905 he pitched for the Minneapolis Millers of the American Association and with his arm now sound he produced a 23-11 record. Siever returned to the Tigers in 1906 and went 14-11 with a 2.71 ERA and 71 strikeouts while compiling 222.2 innings. Detroit won the AL pennant in 1907 and Siever contributed an 18-11 tally with a 2.16 ERA, 22 complete games, and 88 strikeouts over 274.2 innings. He started one game in the World Series loss to the Chicago Cubs in which he pitched four innings and took a loss in what proved to be his only postseason action. By this point he had added a change-of-pace pitch to supplement his fastball. Siever pitched one last season for the Tigers in 1908, appearing in only 11 games and going 2-6 with a 3.50 ERA. In 1909 he played for Aberdeen of the Northwest League and posted a 23-16 record. In one more season of action with Chattanooga of the Southern Association he had a 9-9 tally. For his major league career, Siever produced an 83-82 record with a 2.60 ERA, 136 complete games, 14 shutouts, and 470 strikeouts over 1507 innings pitched. With Detroit he was 60-53 with a 2.61 ERA, 93 complete games, 11 shutouts, and 303 strikeouts over 1036 innings. Following his professional playing career, Siever pitched in an amateur league in Detroit and worked for the Detroit Board of Water Commissioners until his sudden death from apparent heart disease at age 44 in 1920.

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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: Dante Bichette, 1994

Outfielder, Colorado Rockies

Age:  29

2^nd season with Rockies

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 215 

Prior to 1994:

A Florida native, Bichette started out playing baseball in Little League. He made the Jupiter High School team as a junior. As a senior he played shortstop. Trying out for the unfamiliar position of catcher at Palm Beach Community College, Bichette’s bat earned him a spot on the roster thanks to a long home run that became something of a local legend. Very much a raw talent, Bichette drew interest with his power hitting. Selected by the California Angels in the 1984 amateur draft, he commenced his professional career with Salem of the low Class A Northwest League at age 20. In 64 games he batted .232 with 9 doubles, 4 home runs, 30 RBIs, and a .258 on-base percentage while playing as an outfielder/first baseman. Moving on to Quad Cities of the Class A Midwest League in 1985, Bichette hit .265 with 28 doubles, 4 triples, 11 home runs, 78 RBIs, 25 stolen bases, and a .297 OBP. In 1986 he refined his hitting at Palm Springs of the Class A California League, batting .272 with 15 doubles, 10 home runs, 73 RBIs, a .324 OBP, and a .428 slugging percentage in 68 games before being promoted to Midland of the Class AA Texas League where he improved his production to .284 with 12 home runs, a .335 OBP, and a .514 slugging percentage in 62 games. In 1987 he moved up to Edmonton of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League where, despite early struggles, he hit .300 with 13 home runs, 50 RBIs, a .352 OBP, and a .481 slugging percentage. Returning to Edmonton in 1988, Bichette batted .267 with 29 doubles, 10 triples, 14 home runs, 81 RBIs, a .304 OBP, and a .446 slugging percentage. Called up to the Angels in September he hit .261 in 46 at bats. Bichette started the 1989 season with the Angels and got off to a fast start in April before tailing off and being sent down to Edmonton at midseason. Following 61 games with Edmonton he returned to the Angels in September and his major league numbers for the year ended up being .210 with 7 doubles, 3 home runs, 15 RBIs, and a .240 OBP. Relegated to backup outfield duty with the Angels in 1990 following the arrival of veteran right fielder Dave Winfield in May, Bichette appeared in 109 games and batted .255 with 15 home runs, 53 RBIs, a .292 OBP, and a .433 slugging percentage. In the spring of 1991 he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for aging Designated Hitter Dave Parker. He platooned in right field with Darryl Hamilton and hit .238 with 15 home runs, 59 RBIs, 14 stolen bases, a .272 OBP, and a .393 slugging percentage. He proved to be strikeout prone, fanning 107 times in 445 at bats. Suffering a torn ACL in the offseason, Bichette was once again a part-time player in right field and batted .287 with 27 doubles while his home run total dropped to 5. He had a .318 OBP. Having caught the eye of hitting coach Don Baylor, who became manager of the expansion Rockies in 1993, Colorado swung a deal for Bichette who became the starting right fielder for the new club. While hindered defensively by his damaged knee, he batted .310 with 43 doubles, 5 triples, 21 home runs, 89 RBIs, a .348 OBP, and a .526 slugging percentage, despite missing the last 21 games due to a broken left hand. Benefiting from the thin air in “the Mile High City”, Bichette finally was reaching his potential as a power-hitting outfielder.

1994 Season Summary

Appeared in 116 games

RF – 116, PH – 3

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 509 [4]

At Bats – 484 [1]

Runs – 74 [13, tied with Matt Williams]

Hits – 147 [2, tied with Jeff Bagwell]

Doubles – 33 [5]

Triples – 2

Home Runs – 27 [7, tied with Gary Sheffield]

RBI – 95 [3]

Bases on Balls – 19

Int. BB – 3

Strikeouts – 70

Stolen Bases – 21 [14, tied with Reggie Sanders & Bip Roberts]

Caught Stealing – 8 [11, tied with seven others]

Average - .304 [20]

OBP - .334

Slugging Pct. - .548 [11]

Total Bases – 265 [3]

GDP – 17 [2, tied with Orlando Merced]

Hit by Pitches – 4

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 2

League-leading at bats were +9 ahead of runner-up Marquis Grissom

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 26, HR - 21, RBI - 77, AVG. - .303, SLG - .547, OBP – .328

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) at Pittsburgh 4/8, (in 5 AB) vs. Houston 6/22, (in 5 AB) at Chi. Cubs 7/6, (in 4 AB) vs. St. Louis 7/14

Longest hitting streak – 16 games

HR at home – 15

HR on road – 12

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 5 AB) vs. Philadelphia 4/6, (in 5 AB) vs. Houston 6/22, (in 5 AB) vs. San Diego 6/27, (in 3 AB) at San Diego 7/27

Multi-HR games – 4

Most RBIs, game – 6 vs. St. Louis 7/17

Pinch-hitting – 1 for 2 (.500) with 1 HR, 1 R,  4 RBI & 1 SF

Fielding

Chances – 223

Put Outs – 211

Assists – 10

Errors – 2

DP – 4

Pct. - .991 

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

14^th in NL MVP voting (19 points – 5% share)

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The Rockies went 53-64 to finish third in the NL Western Division, 6.5 games behind the first place Los Angeles Dodgers, at the point in August that a players’ strike prematurely shut down the season and eliminated the postseason. They led the NL in triples (39). The Rockies started off slowly during a 10-12 April which still had them in second place in the NL West at the end of the month. They managed to remain in contention despite playing their second (and last) season in Mile High Stadium, with short power alleys that adversely affected their league-worst pitching staff. At 36-43 and 5.5 games back at the end of June, the club broke even in July, but the loss of slugging first baseman Andres Galarraga caused the Rockies to finish 3-10 in the run-up to the season-ending strike. 

Aftermath of 1994:

The Rockies had a new ballpark in Coors Field in 1995 and Bichette hit a walk-off home run in the home-opening game, the first of a league-leading 40 for the year. He also topped the NL in hits (197), RBIs (128), slugging percentage (.620), and total bases (359) while batting .340 with 38 doubles and a .364 OBP. The Rockies reached the postseason as a wild card and lost to Atlanta in the NLDS. Bichette hit a home run and scored 6 runs in the series loss. He placed second in league MVP voting and in addition to being an All-Star for the second time, he was awarded a Silver Slugger. He took criticism due to the disproportionate degree of his power production at home as opposed to on the road, although he was a .300 hitter away from Coors Field, where he and other hard-hitting members of the lineup were known as “the Blake Street Bombers” due to the ballpark’s location. In 1996 Bichette remained productive by batting .313 with 198 hits, 39 doubles, 31 home runs, 141 RBIs, a .359 OBP, and a .531 slugging percentage. He also stole 31 bases despite his weakened knee. Since the arrival of right fielder Larry Walker as a free agent in 1995, Bichette had seen most of his regular defensive action in left field with good results. In 1997 his offensive production dropped slightly, but not significantly, as he hit .308 with 31 doubles, 26 home runs, 118 RBIs, a .343 OBP, and a .531 slugging percentage. Having put on weight during the offseason, Bichette’s home run total dropped in 1998 to 22 although he led the league with 219 hits and batted .331 with 48 doubles, 122 RBIs, a .357 OBP, and a .509 slugging percentage. It was revealed during the season that he was using a then-legal performance-enhancing supplement. He played one more season in Colorado, where he was a fan favorite, in 1999, hitting .298 with 38 doubles, 34 home runs, 133 RBIs, a .354 OBP, and a .541 slugging percentage. With a new GM seeking to rebuild the club in the offseason, Bichette waived his no-trade clause and accepted a trade to the Cincinnati Reds where he returned to right field in 2000 and, following a slow start, batted .295 with 16 home runs and 76 RBIs until he was dealt to the Boston Red Sox at the end of August. In his 30 games with the Red Sox he hit .289 with 7 home runs. In 2001 with the Red Sox he was primarily the Designated Hitter and batted .286 with 30 doubles, 12 home runs, 49 RBIs, a .325 OBP, and a .460 slugging percentage. After initially signing a minor league contract with the Dodgers in 2002, Bichette chose to retire. For his major league career, he batted .299 with 1906 hits that included 401 doubles, 27 triples, and 274 home runs. He scored 934 runs and compiled 1141 RBIs, 152 stolen bases, a .336 OBP, and a .499 slugging percentage. With Colorado the numbers were .316 with 1278 hits, 665 runs scored, 270 doubles, 18 triples, 201 home runs, 826 RBIs, 105 stolen bases, a .352 OBP, and a .540 slugging percentage. His only postseason appearance occurred in 1995. A four-time All-Star, Bichette placed in the top 20 in league MVP voting three times. During his career he produced well above average in two-strike situations. He coached Little League following his playing career. His son Bo is a shortstop for the Toronto Blue Jays and has been a two-time All-Star to date.

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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.