# Chapter 2: Records & Statistics

Baseball · Chapter 2: Records & Statistics · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/baseball/interesting-facts/chapter-2-records-statistics/)

Odd and striking numbers: the longest games, four-homer games, cycles, no-hitter oddities, speed on the bases, iron men, tape-measure homers, grand slams, big days at the plate and records of a bygone game.

## 2.21 The Longest Games

Games that went on and on, and one that was over in 51 minutes.

### Test 1: The longest games

- Brooklyn and Boston played it on May 1, 1920. (Source: MLB.com, 'Longest games in MLB history'; International League records on the 33-inning game (1981); SABR Games Project)
- Leon Cadore and Joe Oeschger each went all 26 innings. (Source: MLB.com, 'Longest games in MLB history'; International League records on the 33-inning game (1981); SABR Games Project)
- It was suspended overnight and finished the next day. (Source: MLB.com, 'Longest games in MLB history'; International League records on the 33-inning game (1981); SABR Games Project)
- He is now in the Hall of Fame. (Source: MLB.com, 'Longest games in MLB history'; International League records on the 33-inning game (1981); SABR Games Project)
- It was suspended at 4 a.m. and finished two months later. (Source: MLB.com, 'Longest games in MLB history'; International League records on the 33-inning game (1981); SABR Games Project)
- Ripken played for Rochester and Boggs for Pawtucket. (Source: MLB.com, 'Longest games in MLB history'; International League records on the 33-inning game (1981); SABR Games Project)
- The Giants beat the Phillies 6-1 in New York. (Source: MLB.com, 'Longest games in MLB history'; International League records on the 33-inning game (1981); SABR Games Project)
- 1920, 1981, 1984, then 2018. (Source: MLB.com, 'Longest games in MLB history'; International League records on the 33-inning game (1981); SABR Games Project)
- 33, 26, 25, then 18. (Source: MLB.com, 'Longest games in MLB history'; International League records on the 33-inning game (1981); SABR Games Project)
- Darkness stopped it; there were no lights. (Source: MLB.com, 'Longest games in MLB history'; International League records on the 33-inning game (1981); SABR Games Project)

## 2.22 Four Homers in a Game

The rare club of four-homer games.

### Test 1: Four homers in a game

- Two of his homers came in the same inning. (Source: MLB.com, 'Every four-homer game in MLB history'; SABR Games Project; Elias Sports Bureau)
- He nearly hit a fifth, caught at the wall. (Source: MLB.com, 'Every four-homer game in MLB history'; SABR Games Project; Elias Sports Bureau)
- He tied a single-game record from 1924. (Source: MLB.com, 'Every four-homer game in MLB history'; SABR Games Project; Elias Sports Bureau)
- Both played for the Cardinals. (Source: MLB.com, 'Every four-homer game in MLB history'; SABR Games Project; Elias Sports Bureau)
- He also had a double and a single. (Source: MLB.com, 'Every four-homer game in MLB history'; SABR Games Project; Elias Sports Bureau)
- Cleveland fans adored him. (Source: MLB.com, 'Every four-homer game in MLB history'; SABR Games Project; Elias Sports Bureau)
- He was on deck when the game ended. (Source: MLB.com, 'Every four-homer game in MLB history'; SABR Games Project; Elias Sports Bureau)
- 1894, 1932, 1961, then 1993. (Source: MLB.com, 'Every four-homer game in MLB history'; SABR Games Project; Elias Sports Bureau)
- 19, 12, then 4. (Source: MLB.com, 'Every four-homer game in MLB history'; SABR Games Project; Elias Sports Bureau)
- He drove in ten runs that night. (Source: MLB.com, 'Every four-homer game in MLB history'; SABR Games Project; Elias Sports Bureau)

## 2.23 Hitting for the Cycle

A single, a double, a triple and a homer in one game.

### Test 1: Hitting for the cycle

- Most cycles wait on the triple, not the homer. (Source: MLB.com, 'Players who hit for the cycle'; SABR cycles research; Elias Sports Bureau)
- It is even rarer than a normal cycle. (Source: MLB.com, 'Players who hit for the cycle'; SABR cycles research; Elias Sports Bureau)
- He did it twice for Texas and once for Seattle. (Source: MLB.com, 'Players who hit for the cycle'; SABR cycles research; Elias Sports Bureau)
- He won the National League MVP that season. (Source: MLB.com, 'Players who hit for the cycle'; SABR cycles research; Elias Sports Bureau)
- No one had done it twice in a season since 1931. (Source: MLB.com, 'Players who hit for the cycle'; SABR cycles research; Elias Sports Bureau)
- He did it for Houston and then for Boston. (Source: MLB.com, 'Players who hit for the cycle'; SABR cycles research; Elias Sports Bureau)
- He finished it with a home run in the ninth. (Source: MLB.com, 'Players who hit for the cycle'; SABR cycles research; Elias Sports Bureau)
- Each hit goes one base further than the last. (Source: MLB.com, 'Players who hit for the cycle'; SABR cycles research; Elias Sports Bureau)
- 1979, 2012, September 2018, then October 2018. (Source: MLB.com, 'Players who hit for the cycle'; SABR cycles research; Elias Sports Bureau)
- Cycles are about as rare as no-hitters. (Source: MLB.com, 'Players who hit for the cycle'; SABR cycles research; Elias Sports Bureau)

## 2.24 No-Hitter Oddities

Lost no-hitters, first-start no-hitters and brothers who both threw one.

### Test 1: No-hitter oddities

- He was the first to lose a nine-inning no-hitter. (Source: MLB.com no-hitter lists and the 1991 Committee for Statistical Accuracy; SABR Games Project)
- Pitching for the Yankees, he lost 4-0 on errors. (Source: MLB.com no-hitter lists and the 1991 Committee for Statistical Accuracy; SABR Games Project)
- He won only three games in the majors. (Source: MLB.com no-hitter lists and the 1991 Committee for Statistical Accuracy; SABR Games Project)
- Roy Oswalt started and left injured. (Source: MLB.com no-hitter lists and the 1991 Committee for Statistical Accuracy; SABR Games Project)
- Two of his five wins were no-hitters. (Source: MLB.com no-hitter lists and the 1991 Committee for Statistical Accuracy; SABR Games Project)
- Bob pitched for St. Louis and Ken for Houston. (Source: MLB.com no-hitter lists and the 1991 Committee for Statistical Accuracy; SABR Games Project)
- He won only one more game in the majors. (Source: MLB.com no-hitter lists and the 1991 Committee for Statistical Accuracy; SABR Games Project)
- 1892, 1953, 1964, then 2003. (Source: MLB.com no-hitter lists and the 1991 Committee for Statistical Accuracy; SABR Games Project)
- 1978, 1979, then 1983. (Source: MLB.com no-hitter lists and the 1991 Committee for Statistical Accuracy; SABR Games Project)
- Jim Abbott pitched it in the Bronx. (Source: MLB.com no-hitter lists and the 1991 Committee for Statistical Accuracy; SABR Games Project)

## 2.25 Speed on the Bases

Steals, a designated runner and a runaway tarp.

### Test 1: Speed on the bases

- He was named National League MVP. (Source: MLB.com stolen base records; SABR BioProject (Maury Wills, Vince Coleman, Herb Washington, Rod Carew); MiLB.com on Billy Hamilton (2012))
- Cobb's mark had stood for 47 years. (Source: MLB.com stolen base records; SABR BioProject (Maury Wills, Vince Coleman, Herb Washington, Rod Carew); MiLB.com on Billy Hamilton (2012))
- He stole over 100 in each of his first three seasons. (Source: MLB.com stolen base records; SABR BioProject (Maury Wills, Vince Coleman, Herb Washington, Rod Carew); MiLB.com on Billy Hamilton (2012))
- He was a world-class sprinter who never batted or fielded. (Source: MLB.com stolen base records; SABR BioProject (Maury Wills, Vince Coleman, Herb Washington, Rod Carew); MiLB.com on Billy Hamilton (2012))
- He stole home eight times in 1912. (Source: MLB.com stolen base records; SABR BioProject (Maury Wills, Vince Coleman, Herb Washington, Rod Carew); MiLB.com on Billy Hamilton (2012))
- He came within one of the season record. (Source: MLB.com stolen base records; SABR BioProject (Maury Wills, Vince Coleman, Herb Washington, Rod Carew); MiLB.com on Billy Hamilton (2012))
- He later stole 56 for the Reds as a rookie. (Source: MLB.com stolen base records; SABR BioProject (Maury Wills, Vince Coleman, Herb Washington, Rod Carew); MiLB.com on Billy Hamilton (2012))
- 1915, 1962, 1985, then 2012. (Source: MLB.com stolen base records; SABR BioProject (Maury Wills, Vince Coleman, Herb Washington, Rod Carew); MiLB.com on Billy Hamilton (2012))
- A long windup gives the runner his chance. (Source: MLB.com stolen base records; SABR BioProject (Maury Wills, Vince Coleman, Herb Washington, Rod Carew); MiLB.com on Billy Hamilton (2012))
- The injury kept him out of the World Series. (Source: MLB.com stolen base records; SABR BioProject (Maury Wills, Vince Coleman, Herb Washington, Rod Carew); MiLB.com on Billy Hamilton (2012))

## 2.26 Iron Men

Long runs of games, before and beyond the famous streaks.

### Test 1: Iron men

- The shortstop played for Boston and New York. (Source: MLB.com consecutive-games records; SABR BioProject (Everett Scott, Steve Garvey, Billy Williams, Joe Sewell); NPB records on Sachio Kinugasa and Hideki Matsui)
- He was playing for San Diego when it ended. (Source: MLB.com consecutive-games records; SABR BioProject (Everett Scott, Steve Garvey, Billy Williams, Joe Sewell); NPB records on Sachio Kinugasa and Hideki Matsui)
- The Cubs outfielder was called 'Sweet Swingin' Billy'. (Source: MLB.com consecutive-games records; SABR BioProject (Everett Scott, Steve Garvey, Billy Williams, Joe Sewell); NPB records on Sachio Kinugasa and Hideki Matsui)
- He did not miss a single inning for over five seasons. (Source: MLB.com consecutive-games records; SABR BioProject (Everett Scott, Steve Garvey, Billy Williams, Joe Sewell); NPB records on Sachio Kinugasa and Hideki Matsui)
- Japanese fans called him 'Iron Man'. (Source: MLB.com consecutive-games records; SABR BioProject (Everett Scott, Steve Garvey, Billy Williams, Joe Sewell); NPB records on Sachio Kinugasa and Hideki Matsui)
- He once went 115 games without striking out. (Source: MLB.com consecutive-games records; SABR BioProject (Everett Scott, Steve Garvey, Billy Williams, Joe Sewell); NPB records on Sachio Kinugasa and Hideki Matsui)
- He was an All-Star at five different positions. (Source: MLB.com consecutive-games records; SABR BioProject (Everett Scott, Steve Garvey, Billy Williams, Joe Sewell); NPB records on Sachio Kinugasa and Hideki Matsui)
- 1925, 1939, 1983, then 1998. (Source: MLB.com consecutive-games records; SABR BioProject (Everett Scott, Steve Garvey, Billy Williams, Joe Sewell); NPB records on Sachio Kinugasa and Hideki Matsui)
- 2,215, 1,207, then 1,117. (Source: MLB.com consecutive-games records; SABR BioProject (Everett Scott, Steve Garvey, Billy Williams, Joe Sewell); NPB records on Sachio Kinugasa and Hideki Matsui)
- He had played 1,768 straight games in Japan and New York. (Source: MLB.com consecutive-games records; SABR BioProject (Everett Scott, Steve Garvey, Billy Williams, Joe Sewell); NPB records on Sachio Kinugasa and Hideki Matsui)

## 2.27 Tape-Measure Home Runs

The longest home runs and where they landed.

### Test 1: Tape-measure home runs

- Its distance was given as 565 feet. (Source: SABR, 'Mickey Mantle's 565-foot home run' and Fenway Park's red seat; MLB.com All-Star Game history (1971); Los Angeles Dodgers on home runs out of Dodger Stadium)
- Red Patterson paced it out after the game. (Source: SABR, 'Mickey Mantle's 565-foot home run' and Fenway Park's red seat; MLB.com All-Star Game history (1971); Los Angeles Dodgers on home runs out of Dodger Stadium)
- The home run was measured at 502 feet. (Source: SABR, 'Mickey Mantle's 565-foot home run' and Fenway Park's red seat; MLB.com All-Star Game history (1971); Los Angeles Dodgers on home runs out of Dodger Stadium)
- He did it again in 1973. (Source: SABR, 'Mickey Mantle's 565-foot home run' and Fenway Park's red seat; MLB.com All-Star Game history (1971); Los Angeles Dodgers on home runs out of Dodger Stadium)
- It was one of the longest homers ever seen there. (Source: SABR, 'Mickey Mantle's 565-foot home run' and Fenway Park's red seat; MLB.com All-Star Game history (1971); Los Angeles Dodgers on home runs out of Dodger Stadium)
- No one ever hit a fair ball out of the old stadium. (Source: SABR, 'Mickey Mantle's 565-foot home run' and Fenway Park's red seat; MLB.com All-Star Game history (1971); Los Angeles Dodgers on home runs out of Dodger Stadium)
- Tracking systems now measure every homer. (Source: SABR, 'Mickey Mantle's 565-foot home run' and Fenway Park's red seat; MLB.com All-Star Game history (1971); Los Angeles Dodgers on home runs out of Dodger Stadium)
- 1946, 1953, 1963, then 1969. (Source: SABR, 'Mickey Mantle's 565-foot home run' and Fenway Park's red seat; MLB.com All-Star Game history (1971); Los Angeles Dodgers on home runs out of Dodger Stadium)
- 565, 502, then about 400 feet. (Source: SABR, 'Mickey Mantle's 565-foot home run' and Fenway Park's red seat; MLB.com All-Star Game history (1971); Los Angeles Dodgers on home runs out of Dodger Stadium)
- He hit it as a pinch-hitter for the American League. (Source: SABR, 'Mickey Mantle's 565-foot home run' and Fenway Park's red seat; MLB.com All-Star Game history (1971); Los Angeles Dodgers on home runs out of Dodger Stadium)

## 2.28 Grand Slams

Bases-loaded home runs with a twist.

### Test 1: Grand slams

- In bridge it means winning every trick. (Source: MLB.com grand slam records; SABR Games Project (Tatís 1999, Cloninger 1966, Ventura 1999 NLCS); Elias Sports Bureau)
- He drove in eight runs in that inning. (Source: MLB.com grand slam records; SABR Games Project (Tatís 1999, Cloninger 1966, Ventura 1999 NLCS); Elias Sports Bureau)
- His manager left him in. (Source: MLB.com grand slam records; SABR Games Project (Tatís 1999, Cloninger 1966, Ventura 1999 NLCS); Elias Sports Bureau)
- Team-mates mobbed him before he reached second. (Source: MLB.com grand slam records; SABR Games Project (Tatís 1999, Cloninger 1966, Ventura 1999 NLCS); Elias Sports Bureau)
- He never hit another in his career. (Source: MLB.com grand slam records; SABR Games Project (Tatís 1999, Cloninger 1966, Ventura 1999 NLCS); Elias Sports Bureau)
- He drove in nine runs as a pitcher. (Source: MLB.com grand slam records; SABR Games Project (Tatís 1999, Cloninger 1966, Ventura 1999 NLCS); Elias Sports Bureau)
- In the same game a team-mate turned an unassisted triple play. (Source: MLB.com grand slam records; SABR Games Project (Tatís 1999, Cloninger 1966, Ventura 1999 NLCS); Elias Sports Bureau)
- 1920, 1966, 1987, then 1999. (Source: MLB.com grand slam records; SABR Games Project (Tatís 1999, Cloninger 1966, Ventura 1999 NLCS); Elias Sports Bureau)
- Only the winning run counted. (Source: MLB.com grand slam records; SABR Games Project (Tatís 1999, Cloninger 1966, Ventura 1999 NLCS); Elias Sports Bureau)
- The Braves had moved to Atlanta that season. (Source: MLB.com grand slam records; SABR Games Project (Tatís 1999, Cloninger 1966, Ventura 1999 NLCS); Elias Sports Bureau)

## 2.29 Big Days at the Plate

Seven hits, thirty runs and a seventeen-run inning.

### Test 1: Big days at the plate

- He had two hits in two different innings. (Source: MLB.com single-game records; SABR Games Project (Stennett 1975, Cubs-Phillies 1922, Red Sox 1953, Rangers 2007, Blue Jays 1987))
- It is one of the biggest shutouts in history. (Source: MLB.com single-game records; SABR Games Project (Stennett 1975, Cubs-Phillies 1922, Red Sox 1953, Rangers 2007, Blue Jays 1987))
- They won 30-3. (Source: MLB.com single-game records; SABR Games Project (Stennett 1975, Cubs-Phillies 1922, Red Sox 1953, Rangers 2007, Blue Jays 1987))
- They scored all thirty after that. (Source: MLB.com single-game records; SABR Games Project (Stennett 1975, Cubs-Phillies 1922, Red Sox 1953, Rangers 2007, Blue Jays 1987))
- The Cubs won 26-23. (Source: MLB.com single-game records; SABR Games Project (Stennett 1975, Cubs-Phillies 1922, Red Sox 1953, Rangers 2007, Blue Jays 1987))
- One Red Sox player got three hits in that inning. (Source: MLB.com single-game records; SABR Games Project (Stennett 1975, Cubs-Phillies 1922, Red Sox 1953, Rangers 2007, Blue Jays 1987))
- Catcher Ernie Whitt hit three of them. (Source: MLB.com single-game records; SABR Games Project (Stennett 1975, Cubs-Phillies 1922, Red Sox 1953, Rangers 2007, Blue Jays 1987))
- 1922, 1953, 1975, then 2007. (Source: MLB.com single-game records; SABR Games Project (Stennett 1975, Cubs-Phillies 1922, Red Sox 1953, Rangers 2007, Blue Jays 1987))
- 49, 30, then 22. (Source: MLB.com single-game records; SABR Games Project (Stennett 1975, Cubs-Phillies 1922, Red Sox 1953, Rangers 2007, Blue Jays 1987))
- No one has had more hits in one inning. (Source: MLB.com single-game records; SABR Games Project (Stennett 1975, Cubs-Phillies 1922, Red Sox 1953, Rangers 2007, Blue Jays 1987))

## 2.30 Records of a Bygone Game

Numbers from early baseball that will never be matched.

### Test 1: Records of a bygone game

- Wilson's 36 triples are still the season record. (Source: SABR BioProject and SABR records research (Chief Wilson, Jack Taylor, Will White, Matt Kilroy, Earl Webb, Sam Crawford); Elias Sports Bureau)
- He played most of his career in Detroit. (Source: SABR BioProject and SABR records research (Chief Wilson, Jack Taylor, Will White, Matt Kilroy, Earl Webb, Sam Crawford); Elias Sports Bureau)
- He was never relieved in all that time. (Source: SABR BioProject and SABR records research (Chief Wilson, Jack Taylor, Will White, Matt Kilroy, Earl Webb, Sam Crawford); Elias Sports Bureau)
- He also pitched 680 innings that year. (Source: SABR BioProject and SABR records research (Chief Wilson, Jack Taylor, Will White, Matt Kilroy, Earl Webb, Sam Crawford); Elias Sports Bureau)
- Pitchers then threw from much closer. (Source: SABR BioProject and SABR records research (Chief Wilson, Jack Taylor, Will White, Matt Kilroy, Earl Webb, Sam Crawford); Elias Sports Bureau)
- Doubles records are far less famous than homer records. (Source: SABR BioProject and SABR records research (Chief Wilson, Jack Taylor, Will White, Matt Kilroy, Earl Webb, Sam Crawford); Elias Sports Bureau)
- Early pitchers started almost every other day. (Source: SABR BioProject and SABR records research (Chief Wilson, Jack Taylor, Will White, Matt Kilroy, Earl Webb, Sam Crawford); Elias Sports Bureau)
- 1879, 1886, 1912, then 1931. (Source: SABR BioProject and SABR records research (Chief Wilson, Jack Taylor, Will White, Matt Kilroy, Earl Webb, Sam Crawford); Elias Sports Bureau)
- 513, 309, then 187. (Source: SABR BioProject and SABR records research (Chief Wilson, Jack Taylor, Will White, Matt Kilroy, Earl Webb, Sam Crawford); Elias Sports Bureau)
- Pittsburgh played at Forbes Field from 1909 to 1970. (Source: SABR BioProject and SABR records research (Chief Wilson, Jack Taylor, Will White, Matt Kilroy, Earl Webb, Sam Crawford); Elias Sports Bureau)

Sources: Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: the National Baseball Hall of Fame, MLB and its clubs, the WBSC, SABR's BioProject, the Library of Congress, Guinness World Records, makers' and leagues' own histories and named reputable media.

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