I used to be just lately studying concerning the all-time profession dwelling run leaders for pitchers by every staff. The Royals had been in direction of the underside of the pile, primarily for the reason that American League instituted the Designated Hitter in 1973. Their dwelling run chief is Jim Rooker, one of many unique Royals. He has 5, a report that can most definitely by no means be damaged. 4 of these dingers got here within the 1969 season, which is greater than most of their utility infielders hit in a 12 months. Of their historical past, the Royals have solely had 4 pitchers go yard, Rooker, Jim York, Lance Clemons, and Zach Greinke.
Different groups have had some decent-hitting pitchers. Within the trendy period, Carlos Zambrano, the fiery hurler of the Chicago Cubs, belted 23 dwelling runs. Royal heel Madison Bumgarner stroked 19 dongs throughout his profession with the Giants and Diamondbacks.
Earl Wilson, a gifted right-handed pitcher who had an eleven-year profession from 1959 to 1970, primarily with the Purple Sox and Tigers, is the one pitcher to guide two groups. Wilson jacked 17 bombs for the Purple Sox and 15 as a member of the Tigers workers. Spectacular.
The all-time chief for pitcher dwelling runs is Wes Ferrell, who clubbed 37 lengthy balls throughout his 15-year profession. Ferrell hit 19 of these bombs whereas pitching for the Indians. You’d suppose that’d be sufficient to get him on the leaderboard, however Cleveland’s all-time chief is former Royal supervisor Bob Lemon with 35. That is smart since Lemon got here up as an outfielder, later switching to the mound when American League pitchers discovered that he couldn’t hit a changeup. Lemon was no slouch on the mound both, profitable 207 video games and gaining induction into the Corridor of Fame in 1976.
Tied with Lemon is Warren Spahn who clubbed 35 lengthy balls whereas pitching for the Boston/Milwaukee Braves. Spahn was a adorned World Warfare II veteran, who fought within the Battle of the Bulge and at Ludendorff Bridge. He was awarded a Purple Coronary heart and a Bronze star for his efforts. When he got here again from the struggle, Spahn launched into a 21-year profession which noticed him finish with a report of 363 wins towards 245 losses. He received over 20 video games in 13 of these seasons, again when being a 20-game winner meant one thing.
In the direction of the top of his profession, he pitched for the 1965 New York Mets. Yogi Berra got here out of retirement to catch Spahn. Yogi remarked, “I don’t suppose we’re the oldest battery ever, however we’re definitely the ugliest.” They had been additionally a battery of former WWII heroes, as Yogi was a gunner’s mate on a rocket boat. Yogi’s job was firing rockets and machine weapons at German positions throughout the D-Day invasion on Omaha Seashore. After experiences like that, I suppose taking part in ball in entrance of 55,000 folks within the World Sequence looks like youngster’s play.
Spahn all the time seemed like somebody’s grandfather as an alternative of a world-class athlete. And sure, he was a world-class athlete. You don’t win 363 video games and hit 35 dwelling runs if you happen to’re not gifted. Spahn had different claims to fame in his charmed profession. In 1951 he allowed the primary profession hit to Willie Mays, a house run. This got here after Mays bought off to a gradual begin, going zero for his first 12 at-bats. Afterward, Spahn advised reporters, “Gents, for the primary 60 ft, that was a hell of a pitch.” In later years he joked, “We’d have gotten rid of Willie eternally if I’d solely struck him out.”
Sandy Koufax solely hit two dwelling runs in his profession. The primary got here off Spahn in 1962.
In 1948, the Braves (then situated in Boston) had been locked into a decent pennant race. Boston Submit sports activities editor Gerald Hern wrote a now well-known poem which has been known as “Spahn and Sain and pray for rain”. Spahn began 36 video games in 1948 and accomplished 16 of them. He was a workhorse, main the league in full video games in 9 seasons and throwing 382 in his profession. He threw two no-hitters in his profession and in a 1963 recreation, on the age of 42, dueled one other Corridor of Fame pitcher, Juan Marichal, for 16 innings. Spahn threw 201 pitches and Marichal threw 227. The sport ended when Willie Mays nicked Spahn for a walk-off dwelling run within the backside of the sixteenth inning.
There have been a few different notables on the checklist. Laborious throwing left-hander Don Drysdale jacked 29 dwelling runs throughout his tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Drysdale was one other terrific athlete. The Dodgers would often use him as a pinch hitter.
One in all my favourite pitchers, Bob Gibson, holds the Cardinals report with 24 lengthy balls. Gibson was a freak athlete. An distinctive basketball participant throughout his time at Creighton College, he later performed for the Harlem Globetrotters. Older baseball followers are well-versed in Gibson’s ferociously aggressive character. Nothing says it higher than what Henry Aaron advised a younger Dusty Baker when first dealing with Gibson.
“Don’t dig in towards Bob Gibson. He’ll knock you down. He’d knock down his personal grandmother. Don’t stare at him, don’t smile at him, don’t discuss to him. He doesn’t prefer it. When you occur to hit a house run, don’t run too gradual and don’t run too quick. If you wish to have a good time, get into the tunnel first. And if he hits you, don’t cost the mound as a result of he’s a Golden Gloves boxer.”
The final hit Gibson allowed in his storied profession was a grand slam dwelling run to future Royal Pete LaCock on September third, 1975. Years later, Gibson was dealing with LaCock in an old-timer’s recreation and plunked LaCock with a pitch. Gibson defined it to Bob Costas this fashion, “Robert, the scales have to be balanced, irrespective of how lengthy it takes.”
LaCock, a sensible man, didn’t cost the mound.
