Monday, April 27, 2009

Pitchers Most and Least Likely to Hit Batters

Hey, I told you this was worthless trivia. Here goes:

Fewest Innings Pitched per Hit Batsman (minimum 100 HBP):
1. 9.95 Ed Doheny (1895-1903)140 in 1392 2/3 IP, 75-83 W-L record
2. 10.68 Phil Knell (1888-95) 136 in 1452 1/3 IP, 79-90
3. 11.94 Frank Foreman (1885-1902) 142 in 1695 2/3, 95-90
4. 12.39 Jack Warhop (1908-15) 114 in 1412 2/3, 69-92 W-L record
5. 12.75 Jamey Wright (1996-2009+) 128 in 1632, 79-110
6. 14.11 Chan Ho Park (1994-2009+) 132 in 1862 1/3, 117-92
7. 14.35 Pink Hawley (1892-1901) 210 in 3012 2/3, 167-179
8. 14.66 Jeff Weaver (1999-2007) 117 in 1714 2/3, 93-114
9. 15.32 Chick Fraser (1896-1909) 219 in 3356, 175-212
10. 15.61 Gus Weyhing (1887-1901) 274 in 4324 1/3, 264-232

others of note with 2000+ IP:
16.63 Jack Taylor (1891-1899) 125 in 2079, 120-117
17.01 Tim Wakefield (1992-2009+), 166 in 2824, 180-158
17.15 Willie Sudhoff (1897-1906) 121 in 2075 1/3, 102-135
17.24 Win Mercer (1894-1902) 144 in 2482 1/3, 132-164

Most Innings Pitched per Hit Batsman (min. 2000 IP)
1. 234.0 Mike Cuellar (1959-77), 12 in 2808, 185-130 W-L record
2. 217.0 Joe Dobson (1939-54), 10 in 2170, 137-103
3. 184.0 Ron Guidry (1975-88) 13 in 2392, 170-91
4. 157.53 Hal Newhouser (1939-54), 19 in 2993, 207-150
5. 146.52 Alvin Crowder (1926-36), 16 in 2344 1/3, 167-115
6. 145.36 Vida Blue (1969-86), 23 in 3343 1/3, 209-161
7. 142.62 Lindy McDaniel (1955-75), 15 in 2139 1/3, 141-119
8. 135.98 Ross Grimsley (1971-82), 15 in 2039 2/3, 124-99
9. 134.23 Ted Lyons (1923-46), 31 in 4161, 260-230
10. 131.74 Lefty Gomez (1930-43) 19 in 2503, 189-102

NOTE: McDaniel had just one HBP in his last 697 1/3 IP (1968-75)!

No coincidence that only 3 of the 10 guys in the top list (most often hitting batters) had winning career records, whereas all 10 of those least likely to hit batters (showing good control) had winning records. Also, note that all those with frequent HPB pitched either from 1887-1915 or 1992-today, whereas all those with fewest HBP pitched between those two periods, from 1923-88.
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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I am glad that the MLB is starting to fine pitchers more often - if we are going to break the trend of pitchers hitting batters in retaliation I think we need stricter punishments. Here is an interesting article about pitcher retaliation: https://www.mindreign.com/en/mindshare/Sports/Hit-By-Pitch/sl40763392bp413cpp10pn1.html

3:23 PM

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