I was wondering just which baseball feats are the rarest. Perfect games are extremely rare. There have been 24 in MLB history, with the latest being recorded by Yankee pitcher Domingo German, he joined David Wells, David Cone, and Don Larsen, giving the Yankees four of the 24 thrown in history. The Dodgers have had one, Sandy Koufax in 1965.
The Dodgers have been on the losing end of three perfect games, Larsen’s perfecto in the 56 World Series, Tom Browning in 1968 and Dennis Martinez’s gem at Dodger Stadium in 1992. The Tampa Bay Rays have also had 3 perfect games thrown against them.
I thought triple plays would be on the list, but there have been 734 in MLB history. But unassisted triple plays are very rare with only 15 in history. The last one occurred in 2009. Bill Wambsganss turned one in the 1920 World Series against Brooklyn.
Four homers by a player in a game has happened 18 times. Only Dodgers to do it, Gil Hodges and Shawn Green. However, current Dodger, JD Martinez, hit four against the Dodgers while with Arizona in 2017. He is also the last player to do that.
Only five players have hit HR’s in four consecutive at bats in one game, Gehrig was the first and only two NL players, Mike Schmidt.
Side note, in 1995, Henry Rodriguez of the Dodgers hit four homers in a spring training game against the Mets. The only player to accomplish that.
No Dodger has ever hit 50 homers. The most was the 49 hit by Shawn Green in 2001. Adrián Beltré hit 48 in 2004. Cody Bellinger hit 47 in 2019. Snider and Sheffield would record 43 homer seasons. Hodges hit 42 once, Green hit 42 once, Snider did it twice. Campy hit 41 in 53. Snider and Piazza hit 40. Snider had 5 40 homer seasons as a Dodger, all five were consecutive. Green is the only other Dodger with multiple 40 homer years.
Twelve 40 homer seasons in their entire history. Which makes that feat rarer in Dodger land than no-hitters. There have been 26 no-hitters in Dodger history. The last one in 2018 was a combined no-hitter by Buehler, Cingrani, Garcia and Liberatore.
Erskine and Koufax are the only Dodgers with multiple no-hitters, Erskine in 52 and 56. Koufax had no-hitters in four consecutive seasons, 62-63-64 and the last one his perfect game in 1965 which set a record for the lowest number of hits in any game, one.
The Dodgers have turned 18 triple plays since 1901. But only three of those in Los Angeles, and none since 2012. So for the LA Dodgers at least, the triple play is very rare. Any thoughts on other rare feats?
08-16-2023 – MiLB Game Summary Report
Salt Lake City Bees (LAA) 6 – OKC Dodgers 2
Bryan Hudson drew the opener assignment. He had 4 Ks, but also allowed 4 hits for 2 runs. Shelby Miller drew a rehab assignment, and it did not go well. 1.0 IP, 3 runs, 2 hits, 1 BB, 2 HR. Okay he had 2 Ks.
Key Performers:
- Drew Avans – 2-4, 1 run, double (23)
- Michael Busch – double (23)
Box Score
Tulsa Drillers 5 – Frisco Roughriders (Texas) 2
Two singles, a passed ball, and a 2-run single put the Drillers on top in the 1st. Frisco tied the score in the 3rd. Tulsa scored 1 in the 7th and then got 2 solo HRs from Diego Cartaya (17) and Luis Yanel Diaz his first AA HR since his 08/08/23 promotion.
Key Performers:
- Jorbit Vivas – 2-5, 1 run, 1 RBI
- Imanol Vargas – 2-5, 2 RBI, double (24)
- Diego Cartaya – 2-5, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (17)
- Luis Yanel Diaz – 2-3, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (1)
Box Score
Lansing Lugnuts 4 – Great Lakes Loons 3
The Lugnuts scored the go-ahead run in the 8th in a game that had Lansing catch Great Lakes twice, before the got the game winner. Hyun-il Choi went the first 5.0 IP, allowing 2 runs.
Key Performers:
- Damon Keith – 2-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI
- Chris Alleyne – 2-5, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR (5)
- Jake Vogel – 2-4, double (20)
- Taylor Young – triple (4)
- Alex Freeland – double (13)
Box Score
Visalia Rawhide (Arizona) 3 – Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 2
The Rawhide scored 2 off Christian Romero in the 1st and 3 in total in his 5.0 IP. The Quakes scored their 2nd in the 8th, but that is as close as they could get.
Key Performers:
- Dylan Campbell – 2-4, double (1)
- Rayne Doncon – Double (19)
Box Score
10 wins in a row sweet. Taylor finally got off of the schneid and hit his first homer in almost a month. Rojas got his third. The only Dodger position player without one, Barnes.
Cartaya should be clobbering AA pitching and he isn’t. Anybody know why?
Varland looks like a keeper.
As many games as I’ve been to over the years I don’t recall anything that rare happening. I saw Randy Johnson lose a no hitter in the 9th against the A’s. I saw a 22 year old Cal Ripken Jr up close in 2 World Series games in ‘83, his first MVP year and what I recall is thinking that’s the biggest athletic shortstop I’ve ever seen. Being a shortstop myself it was hard to take my eyes off him. The games were rather quiet and over quickly. I saw Gibson and Koufax go at it for 9, Dodgers won on a 9th inning home run by Tommy Davis.
Actually I have seen a lot of great baseball starting in ‘57 in Kansas City. Mickey Mantle hit two towering home runs into the darkness. I was 9; years old an my thought was “how can anyone hit a baseball that far.” From LA to Yankee Stadium, I feel fortunate to have seen as many games as I have.
How often can a pitcher(Yarbough) pitch 3 innings? Im thinkong he could do it every 3-4 games, backing up Gonsolin and Miller if needed.
Whatever the answer is, I wish it were used with other pitchers as well. Piggyback seems more useful than ever with so many 5 inning starts.
The troubles with Cartaya’s offensive is troubling. I have no idea why. Jeff, have you heard anything? I don’t know the average age of a AA player. Maybe, he’s having issues adjusting to the stronger competition.
His OPS in ’21 – 1.023, ’22 – .892, ’23 – .640. His K rate is up slightly this year over last year. The home run power is about the same.
This team is firing on all cylinders right now. A couple of players continue to be in the abyss offensively. With the team currently rolling over opponents it doesn’t make any difference. I’m enjoying this while it lasts. It would be ideal to cool off a bit before the playoffs and then ramp it up for the postseason. I believe I read somewhere that the Dodgers had the easiest schedule after the All Star break so maybe we can expect the team to continue with its winning ways.
Looking forward to Lance Lynn’s outing tonight.
Definitely not Jeff, but I have consistently read Cartaya’s swing has gotten too long.
most see this as correctable, but still something to be addressed
Everybody has a bad year . . . Maybe this is his 😀
“most see this as correctable”
Then correct it. Now.
Just checked. He’s OPSn .820 in August. Not one double.
So you double checked and still couldn’t find a double?
If he is struggling, not hitting doubles, and still OPSing .820, he must be getting a lot of walks. No need to pitch around him so maybe he lacks aggressiveness.
Is he a Muncy clone?
@Badger Patience is a virtue.
@Bumsrap Do we need to rush into labelling people “clones” or creating “comprables”?
Asked by someone who rushed to ask if I were rushing.
Don’t ask that question to Dalton Rushing, hiyoooo
Cartaya is 3.4 years younger than the average Texas League player. Also consider that catchers generally take a bit longer to develop into MLB players than pitchers and other position players. I am working on something with respect to Cartaya.
As a developing catcher he is pulled in several directions and that is harder on a younger player.
Aside from the opening walk, Varland’s incredibly small sample size was fun to watch.
He missed bats!
I missed this place yesterday, and wasn’t here for the Patch/Andes show. It’s a shame (alert, I’m pontificating) because if Patch could stop being so kvetchy about people on a personal level and Scott could get off his Friedman fixation both have made fun and interesting comments.
I shall hope to see more of the fun and interesting!
>>End pontificating.
You are asking a zebra to change his stripes. I get where both are coming from, I find it best for me to avoid. Or maybe more accurately (Ignore)
This Dodger team, at this point in time, looks complete. Is it sustainable for two and half more months. Hope so. In the meantime, I’m really enjoying the daily viewing experience.
TIL that a contribution to the MLB Players Association allows a person to pay half of MLB.tv for the season. Give genrously.
Another example of the poor umpiring and the need for the ABS system in some capacity. This wasn’t close.
It was a makeup call for the previous pitch that was a foot inside and called a strike. On average, both balls were down the middle. Okay, I made that up.
Moron
Many of you know the story, so please bear with me as I write this. It helps me cope.
Today marks the 4th year anniversary of the worst day of my life. 4 years ago today we were in our car coming home from a soccer tournament game when we got an hysterical call from our daughter in law that our 40 year old son, Kristopher, was dead. He died in his sleep from a massive heart attack. There isn’t a day that goes by that I do not think of Kris, or see his face. He was often referred to as having a Tom Cruise smile which he displayed every waking moment in his life. He loved life, and never had a care in the world. No obligations, no commitments.
I do not plan on participating much today. Bear had another post that he forwarded to me, so I can continue to write without pressure of having to post tomorrow.
So carry on, and I will check back in with baseball and Dodgers tomorrow.
One of the hardest hits to a father’s heart. I am sure we are all sending love your way.
Priorities, my friend. You take care of yourself and your family.
Very sorry for your loss Jeff. He is in your heart.
Take care of yourself Jeff. I know you live it every day, but it’s especially hard on this day every year. As they say, parents are not supposed to outlive their children, but life rarely goes the way we plan it.
Take as much time as you need.
God bless and peace to you and your family.
Sincere condolences Jeff.
A source familiar with the situation told MLB insider Héctor Gómez, “It will be very unlikely that Wander Franco will play in MLB again, judging by the results of the investigations that are currently being carried out, which directly commit him to the accusations against him.”
TMZ reported that “social media posts emerged over the weekend that allegedly showed [Franco] in an inappropriate relationship with a minor.”
15’ll get you 20