Best hitting Pitchers Redeux

I found some interesting stats based on the fangraphs website.

First, pitchers since 1900, with a minimum of 300 plate appearances, who have drawn a walk the highest percentage of plate appearances (hard to do--walking the opposing pitcher is considered a major no-no, i.e., a cardinal sin!)

16.4% (60 walks in 366 plate appearances): Mickey Harris, 1940-1952
13.8% (72 in 522) Jack Harshman, 1948-60
13.3% (139 in 1046) Urban shocker, 1916-28
12.3% (76 in 618) Jack Kramer, 1939-51
11.4% (118 in 1033) Doc Crandall, 1908-18 (some games as non-pitcher)
10.9 (169 in 1550) Red Faber, 1914-33
10.7 (141 in 1318) Hooks Dauss, 1912-26
10.6 (67 in 630) Billy Hoeft, 1952-66
10.5 (57 in 541) Jon Matlack, 1971-77
10.5 (166 in 1580) Clark Griffith, 1891-1914 (51 in 424 1901+, for 12.0%)
10.4 (35 in 338) Frank Allen, 1912-17
10.3 (105 in 1017) Mickey Lolich, 1963-1972, 76-79
10.2 (41 in 403) Stubby Overmire, 1943-52


And those LEAST likely to strike out, based on % of at bats:

2.6% (20 SO in 774 AB) Johnny Sain, 1942-55
4.6% (30 in 650) Fred Hutchinson, 1939-53
5.4% (43 in 793) Bob Smith, 1926-37 (1923-25 as non-pitcher not included)
7.1% (41 in 581) Vic Aldridge, 1917-28
7.6% (86 in 1132) Clarence Mitchell, 1911-32 (omitted 1922, when mainly a non-pitcher)
7.8% (58 in 746) Sid Hudson, 1940-54
7.8% (72 in 913) Jesse Barnes, 1915-27

Johnny Sain stands out here, with an insanely low strike-out percentage that no position player comes close to matching today.

And, finally, as a measure of a true hitter, percentage of doubles might be better than batting average, since a lot of pitchers can hit around .200 but thier hits consist of over 90% singles. So heres' the fewest at-bats per double since 1900, minimum of 24 career doubles:
17.05 (38 doubles in 648 ABs) Sloppy Thurston, 1923-33
17.59 (29 in 510) Jason Marquis, 2000-present
18.68 (41 in 766) Frank Smith, 1904-15
18.86 (35 in 660) Jim Bagby, 1912-23
18.92 (26 in 492) Joe Wood, 1908-17 (omitting years as non-pitcher)
19.47 (30 in 584) Jack Bentley, 1913-27 (includes 62 g as non-pitcher)
19.70 (27 in 532) Randy Wolf, 1999-present
19.77 (98 in 1937) Red Ruffing, 1924-47
19.84 (45 in 893) Bob Forsch, 1974-89
20.03 (38 in 761) Rick Rhoden, 1974-89
20.03 (30 in 601) Elam Vangilder, 1919-29

A few notes: interesting that, despite the steep decline in hitting ability of the average pitcher in the past 40 years, that period is well represented on this doubles list. Secondly, Joe Wood had an amazing 13 doubles in 124 at bats in 1912, the same year he won 34 games!) Finally, Wes Ferrell, the undisputed greatest-hitting pitcher of all-time (and should-be Hall-of-Famer instead of his weak-hitting catcher brother, Rick) just misses this list with 20.63 at-bats per double (57 in 1176).

Dbacks homers from 3 guys with big league bros

Just saw the Arizona partial boxscore for a game in progress, and couldn't believe my eyes. Stephen Drew, Adam LaRoche and Justin Upton have all hit homers through 6 innings in that game. So what, you say? So, J.D. Drew, Andy LaRoche and B.J Upton are all proud brothers. And all three are ALSO active players on major league rosters. Don't know if this is a first, but it seems mighty uncommon--three all on one team, homering in the same game, all of them with big league brothers, too.