Well, he hit 49 in six seasons with the Red Sox, though was not a full-time pitcher in either 1918 and 1919. Full-time pitcher in only 1915-17. Pitched 1,190.1 innings with Boston.
He pitched five games for the Yankees: 1920, 1921 (2), 1930, and 1933. (Can we count the HRs he hit in those seasons? :) )
Slugging % (in AL Top 10) 1918 AL .555 (1st) 1919 AL .657 (1st) 1920 AL .847 (1st) 1921 AL .846 (1st) 1922 AL .672 (1st) 1923 AL .764 (1st) 1924 AL .739 (1st) 1926 AL .737 (1st) 1927 AL .772 (1st) 1928 AL .709 (1st) 1929 AL .697 (1st) 1930 AL .732 (1st) 1931 AL .700 (1st) 1932 AL .661 (2nd) 1933 AL .582 (3rd) 1934 AL .537 (8th) Career .690 (1st)
On-Base Plus Slugging 1918 AL .966 (1st) 1919 AL 1.114 (1st) 1920 AL 1.379 (1st) 1921 AL 1.359 (1st) 1922 AL 1.106 (1st) 1923 AL 1.309 (1st) 1924 AL 1.252 (1st) 1926 AL 1.253 (1st) 1927 AL 1.258 (1st) 1928 AL 1.172 (1st) 1929 AL 1.128 (1st) 1930 AL 1.225 (1st) 1931 AL 1.195 (1st) 1932 AL 1.150 (2nd) 1933 AL 1.023 (3rd) 1934 AL .985 (5th) Career 1.164 (1st)
When he was a full time pitcher, was he playing a different position when he wasn't pitching? And thus getting a lot more at bats than most pitchers, who do not typically play between starts?
Elmer (Mike) Smith was like the original Babe Ruth...kinda. Was a solid pitcher in the American Association for a few years in the late 1880s, then pitched a year for the Pirates in the NL, at which point they told the dude he'll make a better outfielder than a pitcher. Then he goes on to play for another decade racking up only offensive stats.
When he was a full time pitcher, was he playing a different position when he wasn't pitching? And thus getting a lot more at bats than most pitchers, who do not typically play between starts?
He pinch-hit when he was a full-time pitcher - 24 times in 1916, for example - but did not play in the field until 1918.
In 1918, he played 1B (13 games), LF (47 games), and CF (12 games). 20 games as pitcher.
In 1919, he was mostly an outfielder (110 games), though he did play a little 1B and LF.
Can you imagine if he was in shape, or was his body perfect for the daily grind of baseball?
I've thought of this many times. I think maybe Babe needed sex, drugs, and rock and roll (the 1920s and 30s versions of those) to be himself and play his own game. He over-indulged in everything and it seems to have worked. He was the Keith Richards of baseball.
(Also, he was in great shape when he was a Red Sox.)
He was in shape for most of his career. Only at the end did he get his famous belly. Most of the footage that we see of him hitting is from the last 2-3 years of his career.
How many of those HR were hit when he was still a pitcher though?
ReplyDeleteWell, he hit 49 in six seasons with the Red Sox, though was not a full-time pitcher in either 1918 and 1919. Full-time pitcher in only 1915-17. Pitched 1,190.1 innings with Boston.
ReplyDeleteHe pitched five games for the Yankees: 1920, 1921 (2), 1930, and 1933. (Can we count the HRs he hit in those seasons? :) )
Some of his BRef stuff is insane.
ReplyDeleteSlugging % (in AL Top 10)
1918 AL .555 (1st)
1919 AL .657 (1st)
1920 AL .847 (1st)
1921 AL .846 (1st)
1922 AL .672 (1st)
1923 AL .764 (1st)
1924 AL .739 (1st)
1926 AL .737 (1st)
1927 AL .772 (1st)
1928 AL .709 (1st)
1929 AL .697 (1st)
1930 AL .732 (1st)
1931 AL .700 (1st)
1932 AL .661 (2nd)
1933 AL .582 (3rd)
1934 AL .537 (8th)
Career .690 (1st)
On-Base Plus Slugging
1918 AL .966 (1st)
1919 AL 1.114 (1st)
1920 AL 1.379 (1st)
1921 AL 1.359 (1st)
1922 AL 1.106 (1st)
1923 AL 1.309 (1st)
1924 AL 1.252 (1st)
1926 AL 1.253 (1st)
1927 AL 1.258 (1st)
1928 AL 1.172 (1st)
1929 AL 1.128 (1st)
1930 AL 1.225 (1st)
1931 AL 1.195 (1st)
1932 AL 1.150 (2nd)
1933 AL 1.023 (3rd)
1934 AL .985 (5th)
Career 1.164 (1st)
When he was a full time pitcher, was he playing a different position when he wasn't pitching? And thus getting a lot more at bats than most pitchers, who do not typically play between starts?
ReplyDeleteElmer (Mike) Smith was like the original Babe Ruth...kinda. Was a solid pitcher in the American Association for a few years in the late 1880s, then pitched a year for the Pirates in the NL, at which point they told the dude he'll make a better outfielder than a pitcher. Then he goes on to play for another decade racking up only offensive stats.
ReplyDeleteWhen he was a full time pitcher, was he playing a different position when he wasn't pitching? And thus getting a lot more at bats than most pitchers, who do not typically play between starts?
ReplyDeleteHe pinch-hit when he was a full-time pitcher - 24 times in 1916, for example - but did not play in the field until 1918.
In 1918, he played 1B (13 games), LF (47 games), and CF (12 games). 20 games as pitcher.
In 1919, he was mostly an outfielder (110 games), though he did play a little 1B and LF.
In 1918, he played 1B (13 games), LF (47 games), and CF (12 games). 20 games as pitcher.
ReplyDeleteThere's a really good book about this.
Can you imagine if he was in shape, or was his body perfect for the daily grind of baseball? Ala David Ortiz type player
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine if he was in shape, or was his body perfect for the daily grind of baseball?
ReplyDeleteI've thought of this many times. I think maybe Babe needed sex, drugs, and rock and roll (the 1920s and 30s versions of those) to be himself and play his own game. He over-indulged in everything and it seems to have worked. He was the Keith Richards of baseball.
(Also, he was in great shape when he was a Red Sox.)
He was in shape for most of his career. Only at the end did he get his famous belly. Most of the footage that we see of him hitting is from the last 2-3 years of his career.
ReplyDeleteahh, good to know!
ReplyDeleteIf Madison Bumgartner stays in the NL, it'll be: Look out, Cy Seymour!
ReplyDelete