Surprising baseball facts

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Reminds me of a piece I once owned. The original collector had found a way to combine two hobbies into one: baseball autographs, and writing to postmasters in obscure towns for hand cancellations featuring names related to the autograph collection. I still have one or two from this assemblage, but the page is long gone.

[GeoPoto]

A few squirts re Cecil:

< Prior to beginning his almost four years in uniform, Travis had a career batting average of .327; after 800 post-war at-bats he finished at .314, which is still the all-time record for an American League shortstop and third overall at shortstop behind Honus Wagner and Arky Vaughan.

< In August 1947 when Cecil retired, the Senators celebrated "Cecil Travis Night", which was attended by former Supreme Allied Commander, Dwight Eisenhower; Travis was showered with gifts, including a fancy DeSoto automobile and a 1,500-pound Hereford bull.

< Despite frostbite suffered during the Battle of the Bulge, Travis refused to blame his military service for derailing his baseball career: saying simply, that his four years away from the game were "too long." He said, "We had a job to do, an obligation, and we did it. I was hardly the only one."

< Bob Feller and Ted Williams lobbied unsuccessfully for Travis' Hall of Fame induction. But as Travis philosophically said: "I was a good player, but I wasn't a great one."

https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1705855237

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by GeoPoto

A few squirts re Cecil:

< Prior to beginning his almost four years in uniform, Travis had a career batting average of .327; after 800 post-war at-bats he finished at .314, which is still the all-time record for an American League shortstop and third overall at shortstop behind Honus Wagner and Arky Vaughan.

< In August 1947 when Cecil retired, the Senators celebrated "Cecil Travis Night", which was attended by former Supreme Allied Commander, Dwight Eisenhower; Travis was showered with gifts, including a fancy DeSoto automobile and a 1,500-pound Hereford bull.

< Despite frostbite suffered during the Battle of the Bulge, Travis refused to blame his military service for derailing his baseball career: saying simply, that his four years away from the game were "too long." He said, "We had a job to do, an obligation, and we did it. I was hardly the only one."

< Bob Feller and Ted Williams lobbied unsuccessfully for Travis' Hall of Fame induction. But as Travis philosophically said: "I was a good player, but I wasn't a great one."

https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1705855237

Great post, sir. You summed it up perfectly.

[oldjudge]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

Reminds me of a piece I once owned. The original collector had found a way to combine two hobbies into one: baseball autographs, and writing to postmasters in obscure towns for hand cancellations featuring names related to the autograph collection. I still have one or two from this assemblage, but the page is long gone.

That's really neat--do you have any others?

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

That's really neat--do you have any others?

Just one. These had to be part of a larger collection, but to date, I've only ever seen the two or three I purchased.

There just has to be a town named John. The collector got a little sloppy here.

[Salfino]

Here's another one. In 1989, the first year they kept count, Nolan Ryan averaged 127 pitches per start. He also had a game with 167 five days after throwing 150. He was 42. FIP ERA: 2.51. 301 Ks.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Imagine Ryan with a little better control, and imagine him at least part of his career on better teams. 375 wins? That's only another 2 per year.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Imagine Ryan with a little better control, and imagine him at least part of his career on better teams. 375 wins? That's only another 2 per year.

1973 Ryan body with 1991 Ryan experience and skill would have been unreal.

[Vit-d]

In 1976 Randy Jones led the National League in both (a) most hits allowed, and (b) lowest WHIP.

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by Vit-d

In 1976 Randy Jones led the National League in both (a) most hits allowed, and (b) lowest WHIP.

And during that year he was the Cy Young winner, and has the distinction of having the least amount of strikeouts (93, in 315 innings pitched) for a starting pitcher who has won the award.

Brian

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Imagine Ryan with a little better control, and imagine him at least part of his career on better teams. 375 wins? That's only another 2 per year.

I would say imagine his control improving earlier. The second half of his career nobody would've confused him with Maddux, but his walk numbers became respectable for a power pitcher.

EDIT: Not going after you Pete, I don't look at who I'm responding to. Didn't realize I hit you 2x in a row until it was done.